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The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate while allegedly attempting to withdraw ransom funds linked to the abduction of three people in the Ilorin East Local Government Area.
The suspect, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, was arrested at a Point-of-Sale (POS) location around the Obudu/Woru axis of the local government area, the police said on Wednesday.
The arrest followed an armed attack on Obudu Village on July 28, 2026, during which three people were abducted.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the police expanded their investigation beyond the scene of the abduction to trace the communication, logistics and financial channels allegedly supporting the kidnapping operation.
“This strategy yielded results when intelligence surrounding the ransom transaction was successfully exploited, leading operatives to Muhamodu Sanni, who was intercepted at a Point-of-Sale (POS) location while allegedly attempting to withdraw ransom proceeds connected with the abduction,” she said.
The police said the arrest was the result of an intelligence-led operation targeting the wider support structure of the suspected kidnapping syndicate.
Ejire-Adeyemi said Sanni cooperated with investigators during interrogation and provided information about his alleged role in collecting ransom.
The suspect also allegedly identified two other members of the syndicate as Aminu and Umar.
“He also provided information regarding other members of the syndicate, including two suspects identified as Aminu and Umar,” the spokesperson said.
According to the command, the information obtained from Sanni has strengthened its understanding of the alleged criminal network and provided additional leads for further operations.
The command said the operation was part of its sustained campaign against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
Rather than restricting the investigation to the location where the three victims were abducted, the police said investigators focused on the wider infrastructure supporting the alleged operation, particularly its communication and financial channels.
The command described the approach as consistent with the intelligence-led and proactive policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Ojo Adekimi, said the command remained committed to dismantling criminal networks operating in the state.
The police also appealed to residents to assist security agencies by providing information that could help prevent further attacks and facilitate the arrest of other members of the syndicate.
The command urged members of the public to sustain their support through “timely, credible and actionable information.”
The command said further operational actions would be guided by information obtained during the investigation.
KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND.
PRESS RELEASE,
KWARA POLICE BREACH KIDNAPPING NETWORK, INTERCEPT SUSPECT LINKED TO RANSOM COLLECTION.
The sustained offensive of the Kwara State Police Command against kidnapping has recorded another significant breakthrough, as intelligence-led… pic.twitter.com/Z68qv20Q2Y
— Kwara State Police Command (@Kwara_PoliceNG) August 12, 2026
