POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER DURING ATTEMPTED N1.6M RIFLE PURCHASE
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, identified as Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged attempt to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Aliyu was arrested on August 3, 2026, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section following actionable intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, to procure the firearm.
Acting on the intelligence, police detectives launched an operation and apprehended Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspect admitted during interrogation to his involvement in the attempted arms transaction.
The PPRO said N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle.
She added that Aliyu disclosed that he intended to use the firearm to rise to the position of a “Boss” within his current kidnapping gang before eventually breaking away to form and lead his own criminal group.
“The suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.
She added that investigators had commenced further verification of the transaction to identify other individuals allegedly connected to the attempted purchase and determine the extent of the criminal network.
“The ongoing investigation is expected to provide 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,” she said.
The arrest comes amid intensified security operations across parts of Kwara State following a series of kidnapping incidents and other violent crimes in some communities.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against criminal elements.
Adekimi, while noting the strategic policing direction of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command would continue to deploy available lawful intelligence and operational resources to protect residents.
“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” the CP said.
He added that the command would continue its operations until communities across the state were adequately secured and residents could carry out their activities without fear.
The police said Aliyu remains in custody as investigations continue, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Mohammed and identify other individuals allegedly linked to the attempted arms transaction.
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