From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Police operatives in Kwara State, have foiled an alleged attempt to procure an AK-47 rifle, in Kaiama Local Government Area and arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang linked to the planned purchase.
The state Police Command said the suspect, identified as Sanda Aliyu, was arrested on August 3, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of its Anti-Kidnapping Section about an alleged arms transaction.
According to the Command, Aliyu was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, to obtain an AK-47 rifle when detectives moved in and arrested him before the weapon could be delivered.
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The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ilorin on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi.
The Command said preliminary interrogation showed that the suspect admitted involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid for the firearm.
The suspect was also said to have told investigators that he intended to use the weapon to rise to the position of a “Boss” within his alleged kidnapping gang before breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal group.
The police said the disclosure had provided investigators with fresh leads as efforts intensified to identify other individuals connected with the attempted arms purchase and uncover the wider criminal network allegedly associated with the gang.
“The investigative verification of the transaction has provided further leads into the circumstances surrounding the attempted acquisition, identify other persons connected with the illicit arms transaction, establish the full extent of the network, and unravel the broader criminal activities associated with the gang,” the statement said.
The Command said the suspect remains in custody while investigations continue, with efforts ongoing to apprehend the alleged arms supplier, Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large.
CP Ojo Adekimi, while commending the strategic policing direction of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, assured residents that the Command would sustain its offensive against criminal elements across the state.
“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” the Commissioner said, adding that the Command would continue to deploy “every lawful intelligence and operational resource” to secure communities.
He assured residents that the police would remain committed to creating an environment where people could “sleep with both eyes closed.”
