Police arrest 16 suspects, seize arms cache in April crackdown, neutralise bandit

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Kwara State Police Command has announced significant victories against kidnapping and violent crime in April, arresting 16 suspects and recovering a haul of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles used by criminal gangs.

In a statement Saturday by SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer, the command detailed the seizures: 98 rounds of ammunition (20 assault rounds and 78 AK-47 rounds), additional AK-47 live rounds, locally made firearms including a shotgun, cut-to-size shotgun, pistol, and revolver rifle, plus a Toyota Matrix vehicle, mobile phones, and other incriminating items.

Dramatic Rescue at Apata Aje
Operatives thwarted a kidnapping at Apata Aje settlement on April 28 around 11 p.m., when armed men abducted two residents. A joint team of police and National Forest Guards launched a swift bush-combing operation.

The team clashed with fleeing suspects in a fierce gun duel, neutralising one bandit.

Others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Recovered items included live cartridges, expended ammunition, a Samsung A2S phone, and suspected criminal charms, underscoring the criminals’ organised tactics.

Efforts continue to rescue the victims and capture the fugitives.

Kwara Police Commissioner CP Ojo Adekimi vowed to dismantle syndicates and maintain pressure on bandits statewide.