Police arrest kidnapper over N1.6m AK-47 deal in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged attempt to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6m in Kaiama Local Government Area.

Aliyu was arrested on August 3 by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section following intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, to procure the firearm.

The command said detectives moved swiftly after receiving the information and apprehended Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.

In a statement on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the suspect admitted his involvement in the attempted arms transaction during interrogation.

She said Aliyu disclosed that N1.6m had already been paid for the rifle.

According to the PPRO, the suspect allegedly intended to use the weapon to rise to the position of “Boss” within his current kidnapping gang before breaking away to establish 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,” she said.

Ejire-Adeyemi said investigators were working to verify details of the transaction, identify other individuals linked to the attempted purchase and determine the wider activities of the suspected criminal network.

She added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Mohammed and establish the identities of other persons connected to the alleged arms deal.

The arrest comes amid intensified security operations across parts of Kwara following recent cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state.

Adekimi, while acknowledging the policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command would continue to deploy intelligence and operational resources to protect residents.

“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” he said.

The police said Aliyu remains in custody as investigations continue.