Police Arrest Suspected Ransom Collector Linked to Ilorin Kidnap Syndicate
Police in Kwara State have arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly involved in collecting ransom from victims abducted around the Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area.
The suspect, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, was reportedly intercepted at a Point-of-Sale (POS) outlet while attempting to withdraw ransom proceeds allegedly linked to the abduction of three persons during an armed invasion of Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.
The Kwara State Police Command said the arrest followed an intelligence-driven operation designed to penetrate not only the immediate operational activities of the kidnappers but also the communication, logistics and financial channels sustaining their operations.
According to the Command, investigators successfully exploited intelligence surrounding the ransom transaction, leading operatives to Sanni at the POS location.
During interrogation, the police said the suspect cooperated with investigators and provided information on his alleged role in the collection of ransom, as well as details about other suspected members of the syndicate identified as Aminu and Umar.
The Command said the information obtained from Sanni had strengthened its understanding of the criminal network, with further operational leads being discreetly pursued.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, reassured residents that the Command would continue to deploy intelligence-led and proactive policing strategies to disrupt kidnapping networks and deny criminals the freedom to operate.
He also urged residents to support the police by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing operations.
The development, according to the Command, forms part of its sustained offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
The police said the arrest demonstrates the importance of tracking the financial channels of criminal groups, rather than focusing solely on the locations where attacks are carried out.
The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies as efforts continue to dismantle the wider kidnapping network.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command.
