Police Arrest 32 Suspected Bandits in Kwara, Recover Arms

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 32 suspected bandits during intelligence-driven operations targeting criminal networks operating in forest areas of Kwara State.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, made an operational visit to Kaiama, where he commended officers of the Kwara State Police Command and operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for their role in the successful operation.
According to the police, the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led raids on criminal hideouts across forest corridors and rural communities in the state. The suspects were apprehended during coordinated operations carried out in areas including Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, Gbugbu, Tsaraji, and Babanla, where the groups reportedly used forest locations as bases for their activities.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are linked to kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes within the region.
Police also disclosed that two of the suspects are foreign nationals from the Niger Republic who are believed to have collaborated with local bandit groups in cross-border criminal operations.
During the raids, security operatives recovered four AK-47 rifles, 38 rounds of live ammunition, five walkie-talkie communication devices, and a camouflage hydration backpack suspected to have been used by the criminal groups to coordinate attacks and evade security patrols.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Umar Mohammed, a suspect from Jos, Plateau State, who is alleged to have supplied communication equipment to the bandits, along with other individuals believed to have provided logistical support to the network.
Speaking during the visit, the IGP said the arrests were the result of coordinated efforts by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to dismantle criminal groups operating in forest areas across the region. He praised the professionalism of the officers involved and urged residents to continue sharing credible information with security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying operations against banditry and restoring safety in affected communities. He assured that the suspects would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gangs still at large.