By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Muhamodu Sanni, while allegedly attempting to collect ransom proceeds from a Point-of-Sale terminal.
The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation targeting a kidnapping syndicate operating around the Obudu-Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement, saying the operation followed the abduction of three persons during an armed attack on Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.
“The sustained offensive of the Kwara State Police Command against kidnapping has recorded another significant breakthrough, as intelligence-led operations successfully penetrated the support structure of a kidnapping syndicate operating around Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area, culminating in the arrest of Muhamodu Sanni while allegedly attempting to cash out ransom proceeds linked to a recent abduction,” the statement said.
According to the command, the three victims were abducted when armed men invaded Obudu Village on July 28.
Following the incident, the police activated their intelligence and tactical teams and expanded the investigation beyond the scene of the abduction to identify the syndicate’s communication channels, logistics network and financial links.
The investigation subsequently produced intelligence indicating that a ransom payment connected to the abduction was about to be withdrawn.
Acting on the information, detectives tracked the transaction and intercepted Sanni at a POS terminal while he was allegedly attempting to cash out the ransom proceeds.
The police said preliminary investigation showed that the suspect was allegedly involved in collecting ransom on behalf of the kidnapping syndicate.
During interrogation, Sanni reportedly provided information about his alleged activities and identified two other persons, Aminu and Umar, as suspected members of the syndicate.
The command said the information provided by the suspect had generated further operational leads, which detectives were currently exploiting to track down other members of the network.
The police said the investigation was ongoing, adding that efforts were being intensified to identify and apprehend all those involved in the abduction and ransom collection.
The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Ojo Adekimi, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s determination to disrupt kidnapping networks operating in the state.
Adekimi assured residents that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property and denying criminal elements the freedom to operate.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the police and other security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist in preventing crime and apprehending suspected criminals.
The police said the arrest demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led policing in tackling kidnapping, particularly by targeting not only the perpetrators of abductions but also the financial and logistical networks that support their operations.
The command assured residents that it would sustain operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes across Kwara State.