Lawyer, two foreigners nabbed in Kwara over terrorism
An Abuja-based legal practitioner and Niger Republic nationals are among the thirty-two suspected terrorists arrested in Kwara State by the Nigerian police.
The suspects were apprehended for their involvement in firearm supplying, logistics handling, and other enablers
Confirming the arrests on Tuesday, the police stated that the arrests followed intensified counter-terrorrism operations by the detectives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the state Police Command specialized units and other security agencies in forests corridors and transport routes.
According to the police, the suspects included an alleged Abuja- based lawyer and two Niger Republic nationals. The suspects allegedly belonged to various gangs that have terrorised Kwara and neighbouring states since resumed extremism in the Northcentral and Northwest
The police stated that the lawyer was alleged to have supplied sophisticated weapons to two gangs, including one headed by his younger brother linked to several kidnapping incidents in forest areas. While the foreigners were alleged to have collaborated with local terrorists in cross-border criminal activities.
It was gathered that a notorious suspect who went viral on TikTok for posting videos of ransom and brandishing firearms was also arrested.
Recall that the new Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu led a special mission to Kwara between late December and early February before his deployment to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, and subsequent appointment by President Bola Tinubu as the 23rd indigenous IGP.
Disu, it was gathered, was tasked with putting up formidable teams to collaborate with other security agencies in order to go after terrorists hibernating in Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, Gbugbu, Tsaraji, and Babanla forests; dismantle their strongholds, arrest the culprits and their enablers as well as recover their weapons.
Precision airstrikes were said to have been carried out in Gudu forest, another terrorists’ den, forcing several members of the criminal groups to flee their camps.
Police, it was gathered, uncovered a network of informants and logistics facilitators for the criminals including a man and his family alleged to have specialised in ferrying terrorists across rivers and streams to evade security checkpoints for a fee.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said five walkie-talkie communication devices, 38 rounds of live ammunition, four AK-47 rifles and a camouflage hydration backpack suspected to have been used by the criminal groups to coordinate attacks and evade security patrols were recovered in the coordinated raids.
Ejire-Adeyemi said further investigations led to the arrest of Umar Mohammed, a suspect from Jos in Plateau State. He is alleged to have supplied communication devices to bandits. He added that individuals who allegedly provided logistics and support to the gangs were also held.
The IGP, who was in Kwara State on Monday and Tuesday, praised the joint security taskforce for the professionalism displayed.
Disu noted that the goal was to dismantle criminal networks operating in forest locations across the region. He urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies.
Also, the State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, reaffirmed his commitment to intensify operations against banditry and restore safety to affected communities.
He assured that suspects in custody would be investigated and prosecuted. While efforts continue to track down other members of the criminal gangs still at large.
