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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Kidnap gang member arrested over N1.6m AK-47 purchase in Kwara

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A suspected kidnapping gang member was arrested in Kwara State for attempting to buy an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million.
  • The suspect, Sanda Aliyu, confessed to paying for the firearm to become a "Boss" and start his own gang.
  • Police are investigating to identify other individuals involved in the illicit arms transaction and the broader criminal network.

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, Sanda Aliyu, for allegedly attempting to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million in Kaiama Local Government Area.

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

— Adetoun Ejire-AdeyemiKwara State Police Public Relations Officer detailing the suspect's confession.

Aliyu was apprehended on August 3, 2026, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section following intelligence that he was negotiating with an individual, Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, for the firearm. Detectives launched an operation based on this information and intercepted Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.

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.

— Adetoun Ejire-AdeyemiKwara State Police Public Relations Officer explaining the suspect's motive for acquiring the weapon.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted his involvement in the attempted arms deal, stating that N1.6 million had already been paid. He revealed his intention to use the rifle to elevate his status within his current kidnapping gang and eventually establish his own criminal enterprise. Police are conducting further investigations to identify other parties connected to the transaction and map 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.

— Adetoun Ejire-AdeyemiKwara State Police Public Relations Officer outlining the scope of the investigation.

The arrest occurs amidst heightened security operations in Kwara State due to a recent surge in kidnappings and violent crimes. Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would maintain its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements, vowing no respite until communities are secured.

There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements.

— Ojo AdekimiKwara State Commissioner of Police assuring residents of continued action against criminals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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