The Kwara State Police Command, bolstered by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has dismantled a sophisticated banditry network operating within the state’s forest corridors.
The operation culminated in the arrest of 32 suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and tactical equipment.
The success of the crackdown drew a personal visit from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who travelled to Kaiama to assess the situation and boost officer morale. The IGP hailed the arrests as a breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping, cattle rustling, and violent crime in the region.
“These arrests are the outcome of coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating within forest locations across the region,” IGP Disu stated during his visit. “I commend our officers for their professionalism and urge residents to continue providing the credible information that makes these successes possible.”
Investigations revealed that the criminal network was more than a local menace. Among those in custody are two foreign nationals from the Niger Republic, believed to be collaborating with local groups in cross-border criminal activities. The police also struck at the bandits’ supply chain by arresting Umar Mohammed, a suspect from Jos, Plateau State, who is alleged to have supplied communication devices to the gangs.
During the coordinated raids, police 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 to coordinate attacks and evade security patrols.
The gangs reportedly used dense forest cover around Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, Gbugbu, Tsaraji, and Babanla as staging grounds for their attacks. By clearing these hideouts, the police hope to restore safety to the rural communities that have long been under siege. Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, emphasised that the pressure on these criminal elements will not let up.
“We are reaffirming our commitment to intensify operations against banditry and restore safety to affected communities,” CP Ojo said. “All suspects in custody will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, while efforts continue to track down other members of the criminal gangs still at large.”
The operation marks a significant win for the Nigeria Police Force as they work to secure the nation’s vast rural and forested interiors.
