Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested 16 suspects for various alleged crimes ranging from conspiracy, kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and attempted murder.
Among the suspects are three minors identified as Ali Umaru, 16; Alhaji Mosu, 17; and Abacha Babagana, 14, who were arrested for unlawful possession of property suspected to have been stolen.
At a press conference in Ilorin on Friday, the State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed that items recovered from the suspects included nine cartons of i17 Air Flip mobile phones, 10 cartons of i17 Air Pro Flip mobile phones, four Oraimo, New Age and Rex power banks of various capacities, and two wristwatches, among others.
He said the suspects were arrested on July 20, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. during a stop-and-search operation along the Oko-Olowo/Alapa axis of the state.
Adekimi said the suspects have been remanded at the appropriate juvenile correctional centre pending further proceedings.
The police commissioner further revealed that one Aliyu Mohammed was also arrested for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and attempted murder.
According to the CP, the state police command received a distress report on July 15, 2026, of a kidnap incident in Wande Community under the Oro-Ago Kingdom, where armed hoodlums abducted one Miss Shekinat Mukaila, 26.
During the attack, her father, the Baale of the community, sustained gunshot injuries while attempting to resist the assailants.
Following the intervention of the command, the community was secured and the injured Baale was evacuated to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he received medical treatment and has since been discharged. The abducted victim has also been rescued.
Six other members of a kidnap syndicate—Mohammed Jamiu, Fashola Abdulfatai, Daniel Gideon, Adegoke Oladimeji, Aliyu Yusuf and Abubakar Ahmed—have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of one Suleiman Rilwan, 29, since July 26, 2026.
“Investigation subsequently established a criminal conspiracy involving the principal suspect, Jamiu Mohammed, and his accomplices.
“During interrogation, Jamiu Mohammed voluntarily confessed to his involvement in the commission of the offence and provided useful information that led detectives to an abandoned well in a bush in Offa, where the corpse of Suleiman Rilwan was recovered.
“The confession further generated actionable investigative leads, resulting in the arrest of five additional suspects believed to have played various roles in the planning and execution of the crime,” the police commissioner added.
Five other suspects arrested for alleged involvement in cultism and membership of an unlawful society are Oluwafemi Bukoye, Israel Ogungbe, Adesoye Abdulwarith, Dayo Sesan and Ismail Abdul Malik.
Four others arrested for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide are Ahmed Alhaji Ahmadu, Abubakar Mohammed, Mustapha Mohammed and Mohammed Tsado.
The suspects are allegedly connected with the murder of one Mohammadu A. on June 3, 2026.
“Preliminary investigation established that on June 3, 2026, the deceased had gone out to graze livestock alongside his younger brothers.
“While attempting to locate the route back to their settlement, they approached some individuals working on a nearby farmland for directions.
“The deceased thereafter proceeded with one of the individuals who offered to guide him, while his brothers remained behind awaiting his return.
“When he failed to return after several hours, a search party was initiated, leading to the discovery of his lifeless body in a nearby bush bearing multiple injuries.
“Further investigation established that his motorcycle and a sum of N500,000 believed to have been in his possession were missing,” the police commissioner added.
He said detectives immediately secured and processed the crime scene, while the victim’s remains were evacuated to a medical facility for a post-mortem examination.
