01 June, 2025
Taiwo Ogunniyi
The Kwara State Police Command has announced a series of arrests in connection with violent crimes, kidnapping syndicates, armed robbery, and property theft across the state. The briefing, held at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin and addressed by Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, highlighted the Command’s recent breakthroughs in ongoing criminal investigations.
“We are fully aligned with the vision of the Inspector General of Police to enforce professionalism, intelligence-led operations, and robust community engagement,” CP Ojo told reporters.
Among the high-profile cases was the gruesome murder of a farm labourer, simply identified as Gunu, in Baruten Local Government Area. According to police, Haruna Umar and Aminu Gona confessed to killing the victim and burying him on a farm. A third accomplice, known only as “Focuse,” remains at large.
“The disturbing part is that the suspect was caught trying to exhume the body when confronted,” the CP revealed. A hoe and stick used in the killing were recovered. The suspects will be arraigned once investigations are concluded.
In another deeply unsettling incident in Ilorin, the lifeless body of a two-month-old baby, Adam Tahiru, was found in a well just days after his disappearance. The child’s mother had left him asleep while observing prayers. Eight suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the case.
“This tragedy has shaken the community. We are working tirelessly to unravel the motive and ensure justice is served,” CP Ojo said.
Also in Ilorin, police arrested Bashiru Suleiman for fraudulently diverting a truck loaded with 900 bags of cement valued at N8 million. Suleiman allegedly posed as a buyer, leading to the disappearance of the truck and its driver. The truck was later found offloaded at Pasa Area, Bala, Ilorin.
In the Ajase-Ipo area, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested Yakubu Garba, a notorious kidnap kingpin, recovering an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition. The CP described the arrest as a “major breakthrough in our fight against kidnapping.”
“We are dismantling these criminal networks one by one. Garba has been on our watchlist and is currently undergoing prosecution,” he added.
Four men were also apprehended by vigilante operatives in Kaiama for alleged possession of a locally-made pistol, three dynamite explosives, and a black operational jacket, hinting at a possible link to organized crime or kidnapping rings. The case has been escalated to Abuja for further analysis.
Meanwhile, five suspected kidnappers were nabbed following the killing of a farmer and the abduction of his two sons in Oreke. Police say the suspects are part of a wider kidnapping-for-ransom syndicate.
In Ilorin’s Sango area, officers arrested Habeeb Alhaji Sheu in connection with the burglary of a residential property. Sixteen mattresses were recovered from his premises, six of which were positively identified as stolen orthopedic mattresses.
A swift response to a robbery call in Tanke led to the arrest of four suspects who were caught in possession of electrical cables, an escape motorcycle, a knife, and two oxygen cylinders.
“These suspects were caught red-handed during a robbery operation and further confessions have been made. We are still searching for their fleeing accomplices,” said the Commissioner.
CP Ojo emphasized that the Kwara Command will continue its offensive against criminality and urged residents to cooperate by providing timely and credible information.
“Our commitment to safety is unwavering. We will continue to serve the public with integrity and diligence,” he affirmed.
Further updates on these cases will be provided as investigations progress.
