Kwara Police Nab Suspected Kidnapper Attempting ₦1.6m AK-47 Purchase

Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate, Sanda Aliyu, in Kaiama Local Government Area over an alleged plot to acquire an AK-47 rifle for ₦1.6 million.

Aliyu was apprehended on August 3 by detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Section following actionable intelligence regarding ongoing negotiations with an accomplice, Aliyu Mohammed, who remains at large. Police intercepted the transaction before the weapon could be delivered.

In a statement released on Thursday, command spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi disclosed that the suspect confessed to paying ₦1.6 million toward the rifle purchase during interrogation.

According to police accounts, Aliyu admitted seeking the firearm to elevate his status to a leadership role within his current gang before breaking away to establish his own criminal syndicate.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command will maintain its intelligence-driven offensive against violent crime, emphasizing that operations will continue until full security is restored across all communities.

The suspect remains in custody while law enforcement officers track down the fleeing accomplice and work to dismantle the broader criminal network.