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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Nigeria: Police arrest suspected kidnapper planning to buy rifle

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Police in Kwara State, Nigeria, arrested a man suspected of planning to buy an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million to enhance his standing within a kidnapping gang.
  • The suspect, Sanda Aliyu, admitted to paying a portion of the money and revealed his ambition to become a gang leader.
  • Authorities are investigating to identify other members of the criminal network involved in the attempted arms purchase.

Authorities in Nigeria's Kwara State have apprehended a man identified as Sanda Aliyu, who is believed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate. The arrest stems from intelligence indicating Aliyu was attempting to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million (approximately $1,000 USD) in the Kaiama Local Government Area.

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

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

Operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Section detained Aliyu on August 3, 2026, after receiving credible information about his negotiation with an individual named Aliyu Mohammed, who remains at large. Police sources confirmed that the suspect confessed during interrogation to his involvement in the planned arms deal. He reportedly admitted that N1.6 million had already been paid towards the rifle's purchase.

He further revealed that the purpose of acquiring the firearm was to enable him 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.

Aliyu allegedly revealed his motive for acquiring the firearm: to elevate his status within his current kidnapping gang and eventually break away to establish his own criminal enterprise. The police stated that further investigations are underway to identify other individuals connected to this attempted arms transaction and to 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, prompted by a recent surge in kidnappings and other violent crimes. The state's Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would continue its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements, emphasizing a commitment to protecting citizens and ensuring their safety. The police are actively pursuing Mohammed and other potential accomplices.

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

— Ojo AdekimiKwara State Commissioner of Police, assuring residents of continued security operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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