Kwara Police Nab Kidnapper Over N1.6m AK-47 Deal

In a major breakthrough, the Kwara State Police Command has apprehended a suspected kidnapper, identified as Sanda Aliyu, in connection with an alleged plot to purchase an AK-47 rifle for a staggering N1.6 million in the Kaiama Local Government Area of the state. The arrest was made possible by the timely intervention of operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Section, who acted on actionable intelligence that Aliyu was in negotiations with one Aliyu Mohammed, currently on the run, for the procurement of the firearm. According to the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspect confessed during interrogation that he was indeed involved in the attempted arms transaction, revealing that the N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle. The suspect further disclosed that his intention was to acquire the firearm to elevate his status within his current kidnapping gang and eventually break away to form and lead his own criminal outfit. The police have commenced a thorough investigation into the matter, aimed at identifying other individuals connected to the attempted purchase and determining the extent of the criminal network involved. The development comes at a time when security agencies in Kwara State are intensifying their operations to combat the rising incidence of kidnappings and other violent crimes in some communities. Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state, stating that there would be no let-up in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements. The suspect is currently in police custody as the investigation continues, with efforts ongoing to apprehend Mohammed and identify other persons allegedly connected to the attempted arms transaction.