PICTORIAL: Police Intercept Ammunition Hidden In Garri, Arrest Suspected Kidnapper, Cultists In Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has intercepted ammunition concealed in a bag of garri.

The command has also arrested suspected cultists and recovered a human skull allegedly meant for ritual purposes.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, disclosed these while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters, Ilorin, on Friday.

He said the successes recorded by the command in its fight against crime were a result of intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies.

Ojo said, “these achievements clearly show that criminal elements will find no safe haven in Kwara State, while law-abiding citizens can go about their daily activities without fear.

“One of the most striking operations occurred on April 10 along Ajase-Ipo road, where operatives intercepted an unregistered Toyota Previa vehicle entering the state from Kogi. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 98 rounds of live ammunition hidden inside a bag of garri,” he said.

CP Ojo explained that, “the concealment was a deliberate attempt to evade detection and facilitate illegal movement across state lines. Three suspects were linked to the operation, while one of them allegedly received N1.3 million to procure the ammunition. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.”

He stated that in a separate case, police operatives arrested two suspected cultists, Lukman Abdul-Salam, also known as “Ijaya,” and Aliu Ismaila, alias “Gambia,” over a shop breaking incident in Odota area of Ilorin where goods worth about N2.5m were stolen.

“Although the suspects denied involvement in the theft, they admitted belonging to the Eiye confraternity. Police recovered an empty AK-47 magazine from their residence, raising further suspicion of links to broader criminal activities,” he said.

CP Ojo added that two other suspects, Fabiyi Benson Seyi, and Sodiq Rasheed, were arrested in Ganmo area of the State capital city following a distress call, while a locally fabricated cut-to-size shotgun and a live cartridge were recovered during the operation.

He said both men were confirmed members of a cult group terrorising the community.

“In another development, operatives intercepted a 29-year-old suspect, Umaru Aliu, during a routine patrol along the Oroago axis. Items recovered from him included multiple phone chargers, mobile phones, a POS machine, and other personal effects. His inconsistent account of his movement raised suspicion, and he is currently under investigation for possible involvement in kidnapping activities,” he said.

He also confirmed the arrest of one Hamza Woru in Kaiama for unlawful possession of a human skull, stating that investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly exhumed the remains of a deceased relative for ritual purposes.

He said, “the suspect attempted to sell the human skull before he was apprehended, while his accomplice is still at large.”

He added that the case has already been charged to court under the Kwara State law prohibiting dealings in human parts.

Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to security, CP Ojo noted that the police were not only reacting to crimes but proactively dismantling criminal networks.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information, stressing that “security is a collective responsibility, and together we can sustain peace and safety across Kwara State.”

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