- Suspected Kidnap Gang Leader ‘Manti’ Arrested in Kwara Raid
- Recover AK-47 Rifles in Kwara
- CP Ojo Adekimi commended the professionalism and dedication of the officers involved in the operation
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested several suspected criminals, including an alleged kidnap syndicate leader, during a security operation in Baruten Local Government Area of the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the arrests followed actionable intelligence received by security operatives.
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According to her, officers attached to the Okuta Divisional Headquarters carried out a routine raid in the Tabida area of Okuta on June 1, 2026, where a group of suspicious persons believed to be involved in criminal activities were apprehended.
The suspects were subsequently transferred to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for further investigation and profiling.
Ejire-Adeyemi said preliminary investigations led to the identification of one Umar Abubakar, popularly known as “Manti,” who is suspected to be the leader of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of abductions and violent crimes across parts of Kwara North.
She noted that the gang had reportedly been operating around Okuta, Ilesha-Baruba, Tabida, Taberu, and neighbouring communities.
The police spokesperson added that further intelligence-led operations resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with fully loaded magazines believed to have been used by the syndicate in carrying out criminal activities.
According to her, the recovery represents a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle the gang and improve security within the affected commnities.
“The suspects are currently in police custody and are providing useful information that will assist investigators in identifying and apprehending other members of the criminal network,” she said.
She added that efforts were ongoing to uncover the full scope of the syndicate’s operations and ensure that all those connected to the crimes are brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, commended the professionalism and dedication of the officers involved in the operation and assured residents that the command remains committed to tackling criminality across the state.
He stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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