The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate operating around the Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area. The suspect, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, was taken into custody at a Point-of-Sale (POS) location while allegedly attempting to cash out ransom proceeds linked to a recent abduction.
The arrest was confirmed by the command's spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. According to the police, the operation followed intelligence gathering after three persons were abducted during an armed invasion of Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.
Police Statement on the Breakthrough
In the statement, SP Ejire-Adeyemi said: "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 spokesperson further explained that investigators did not limit their efforts to the immediate scene of the attack. Instead, they widened the scope to include communication, logistics, and financial channels supporting the criminal operation. This strategy led to the interception of Sanni at the POS location.
Suspect Cooperation and Further Leads
During interrogation, Sanni voluntarily cooperated with investigators and made useful disclosures about his role in the ransom collection process. He also provided information regarding other members of the syndicate, including two suspects identified as Aminu and Umar.
According to the police, these disclosures have strengthened the intelligence picture of the network and provided additional operational leads that are being discreetly exploited.
Police Reassure Residents
The statement noted that the arrest aligns with the intelligence-led and proactive policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, reassured residents that the command remains operationally positioned to disrupt criminal networks, degrade their capabilities, and deny them freedom of action.
The command also urged members of the public to sustain their support through timely, credible, and actionable information. The police continue to pursue the remaining suspects based on the leads provided.
