A suspected member of a kidnapping gang, Sanda Aliyu, has been arrested by the Kwara State Police Command over an alleged plan to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6m in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

Aliyu was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section on August 3, 2026, following actionable intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, for the procurement of the firearm.

The police said detectives immediately commenced an operation based on the intelligence and apprehended Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspect admitted during interrogation that he was involved in the attempted arms transaction.

“The suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6m had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle.

“He further revealed that the purpose of acquiring the firearm was to enable him to rise to the position of a ‘Boss’ within his current kidnapping gang, before ultimately breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal gang,” the PPRO said.

She added that investigators had commenced further verification of the transaction to establish the identities of other individuals connected with the attempted purchase and determine the extent of the criminal network.

“The ongoing investigation is expected to provide further leads into the circumstances surrounding the attempted acquisition, identify other persons connected with the illicit arms transaction, establish the full extent of the network, and unravel the broader criminal activities associated with the gang,” Ejire-Adeyemi noted.

The development comes amid heightened security operations by security agencies in parts of Kwara State following a series of kidnappings and other violent crimes recorded in some communities.

Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state.

Adekimi, while acknowledging the strategic policing direction of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command would continue to deploy its available lawful intelligence and operational resources to protect residents.

“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” the CP said.

He added that the command would sustain its operations until communities across the state were sufficiently secured and residents could go about their activities without fear.

The police said the suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Mohammed and identify other persons allegedly connected with the attempted arms transaction.