Suspected Kidnapper Arrested in Kogi State
The Kwara State Police Command has apprehended the suspected leader of a kidnapping gang, along with three accomplices, who have terrorized residents in the Kwara North Senatorial District for several months.
In a related development, the Kogi State Police Command has reported the capture of individuals believed to be involved in coordinated attacks on the Egunle community in the Kaba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to the Police Command, the suspect from Kwara was apprehended in the Tabida area of the Okuta region, within the Barten Local Government Area.
In a statement by SP Adetun Ejire Adeyemi, the Public Relations Officer for the police command, it was revealed that authorities recovered two AK-47 rifles, equipped with fully loaded magazines, believed to have been utilized by the gang during their operations.
The statement highlighted that the success in apprehending kidnapping leaders is largely credited to the Violent Crimes Control Unit (VCRU) of the Kwara State Police.
The statement outlined, “The Kwara State Police Command has made significant progress in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state. On June 1, 2026, operatives attached to Okuda Divisional Headquarters, acting on reliable intelligence, arrested several suspicious individuals during a routine raid in the Tabida area of Okuta, Barten Local Government Area.”
Following their detention, the suspects were transferred to the VCRU for further investigation and profiling. Preliminary inquiries identified Umaru Abubakar, also known as Manti, as the suspected leader of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for a number of kidnappings and related violent crimes in the Kwara North region, specifically in and around the communities of Okuta, Ilesha Barba, and Tabida/Taber.
Further investigatory efforts enabled the police to recover the two AK-47 rifles, significantly disrupting the group’s operational capacity and improving security in the affected areas. The suspects remain in custody and are aiding investigators in identifying and apprehending additional members of the criminal network.
The Kwara State Police Commissioner commended the dedication and professionalism of the Violent Crime Squad and other affiliated organizations that contributed to this achievement. The command has vowed to enhance intelligence-led operations across strategic locations, committing all necessary resources to ensure the safety of residents and their properties. The suspects will be brought to court once investigations are concluded.
Kogi Police Arrest Suspected Armed Robbers
In a separate incident, the Kogi State Police Command announced the arrest of several individuals connected to a coordinated attack on the Egunle community in the Kaba/Bunu Local Government Area.
This information was disclosed via a statement from CSP Afsat Saliu, the Command Police Public Relations Officer, who shared details with journalists in Lokoja. After receiving a distress call regarding gunfire in Egunle at approximately 2:49 a.m., Police Commissioner Nazir Bello Kankarofi swiftly deployed tactical units to the scene.
