The police command in Kwara says it has intensified operations against violent crimes, leading to several arrests and recovery of arms and other items across the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekunle Ojo, made this known on Friday at a news conference in Ilorin.

Mr Ojo said the operations were intelligence-driven and carried out in collaboration with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks.

“Our priority is to protect lives and property. These successes reflect our determination to restore public safety and reassure citizens of Kwara of their safety,” he said.

The commissioner said the command also arrested a 15-year-old suspect, Gobri Yusuf, for allegedly killing his housemate with household items in Erin-Ile.

According to him, the suspect had earlier attempted to poison the victim before the incident, allegedly out of resentment.

Mr Ojo said the suspect is in police custody and would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

He also said that three suspected kidnappers were arrested in Ifelodun Local Government Area in connection with the abduction of some construction workers.

The suspects, identified as Bello Ori, Muhammadu Jemare and Mohammadu Shehu, were arrested after the police traced a stolen mobile phone belonging to one of the victims.

The commissioner added that the suspects were assisting the police in ongoing investigations aimed at arresting other members of the syndicate.

Mr Ojo further disclosed that a coordinated operation in Oro-Ago led to the arrest of 10 suspected kidnappers and the recovery of 10 Bajaj Boxer motorcycles allegedly used for criminal activities.

He said investigations revealed the involvement of a mechanic and a logistics operative within the network, adding that efforts were ongoing to dismantle the wider criminal structure.

The police boss also disclosed that a 23-year-old woman, Awawu Maliki Bodo, was arrested with a revolver and three live cartridges and was allegedly linked to a kidnapping group operating in Moro Local Government Area.

Similarly, three suspects: Zubairu Abubakar, Alhaji Issa and Abdullahi Yahaya were intercepted along Duro/Kpada Road with firearms and ammunition.

On cult-related violence, Mr Ojo said the command arrested three suspected cultists, namely Abadulrasheed Hammed, Abdulganeey Abdulafeez and Muhammed Wahab, following the killing of a man in Ilorin.

He said weapons, charms and other cult paraphernalia were recovered from the suspects.

The commissioner added that Sofiullahi Ibrahim, a former leader of a local cult group, was arrested after allegedly aiming firearm at police officers during a violent clash in the Olunlade area.

In another development, Mr Ojo said the police arrested one Noah Olorunyomi, for allegedly shooting a man dead and injuring another at a cashew farm in Erin-Ile.

He said the suspect had confessed to the crime and would face prosecution.

“These results demonstrate the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and decisive interventions,” Mr Ojo said.

He commended officers involved in the operations for their discipline and courage and urged residents to continue providing useful information to the police.

Mr Ojo added that security is a collective responsibility and assured that the command would sustain efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.

(NAN)