Army nabs five suspected criminals with concealed AK-47 rifles in Kwara

Army nabs five suspected criminals with concealed AK-47 rifles in Kwara

The Nigerian Army on Thursday arrested five suspected bandits (“persons of interest”) at a checkpoint along Share town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state after six AK-47 rifles were found with them.

Quoting a top security aide in a statement, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Friday, said that the arrest of the suspected bandits came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla town, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

He said: “Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along Share axis. They concealed six AK-47s under the charcoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon,” a top security aide said on Thursday night.

“They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation.”

Their arrest came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

They were suspected of acting as couriers for kidnapping gangs in the axis.

They were arrested while hiding, during a surveillance operation by government-backed local vigilantes around Babanla on Wednesday.

“They have been transferred to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation,” according to the source.

The CPS also said that many criminals were reported eliminated in a coordinated assault by government vigilante forces in Omu Aran-Eruku earlier on Tuesday.

“Six motorcycles, assault rifles, and many loaded magazines were recovered from their hideouts.

“Four women and two young men, all suspected to be abduction victims, were rescued and handed to the police divisional post in Omu Aran.”