Kwara Police Foil AK-47 Procurement Deal, Arrest Suspected Kidnap Gang Member

The Kwara State Police Command has disrupted an alleged attempt to procure an AK-47 rifle in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state, arresting a suspect identified as Sanda Aliyu before the firearm could be delivered.

The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by its Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi.

According to the statement, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section received actionable intelligence on August 3 indicating that Aliyu was allegedly negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, to purchase an AK-47 rifle.

Acting on the intelligence, police detectives commenced a targeted operation which culminated in Aliyu’s arrest before the suspected arms transaction could be completed.

The police said the suspect, during interrogation, voluntarily admitted his alleged involvement in the transaction. He reportedly disclosed that ₦1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the firearm.

The suspect also allegedly told investigators that he intended to use the rifle to advance his position within his current kidnapping gang, with the ambition of becoming a “Boss” before eventually breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal gang.

The Command said investigative verification of the attempted transaction had yielded further leads that could assist detectives in identifying other individuals connected to the alleged illicit arms deal.

According to the police, the ongoing investigation is also aimed at determining the full extent of the suspected network and uncovering broader criminal activities allegedly associated with the gang.

The police did not disclose whether the AK-47 rifle had been recovered, while the alleged arms supplier, Aliyu Mohammed, remains at large as investigations continue.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, said the Command would sustain its offensive against criminal elements in the state, while acknowledging the strategic policing direction of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

He assured residents that the police would continue to deploy lawful intelligence-gathering and operational resources to strengthen security across Kwara State, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that residents can live and sleep without fear.