Police arrest eight over robbery, recover vehicles in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command says it has arrested eight people linked to several armed robberies and killings after what officials described as a coordinated, intelligence-based operation against criminal groups in the state.

The police also recovered two Lexus cars and other stolen items.

During a press briefing on Friday at the Command Headquarters in Ilorin, the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said one key breakthrough was the arrest of 52-year-old Olatunji Samson, who is suspected to have led a violent robbery attack at Mai Gida Estate, Amoyo, on November 21.

According to him, the command received a distress call around 9 pm on the day of the incident, reporting a serious home invasion where the victim and his private security guard were tied and beaten before the attackers escaped with a Lexus RS 350, $10,000, ₦2.95m, mobile phones, gold jewellery and clothes.

“Acting on actionable intelligence, our operatives tracked the movement of the suspects to Ibadan, Oyo State, where they attempted to dispose of the stolen Lexus RS 350 for ₦15m,” the CP said.

The CP also confirmed the arrest of other suspects linked to homicide, robbery and rape incidents across Ilorin and Offa, but maintained that the breakthrough in vehicle recovery remained a key highlight of the Command’s recent operations.

He disclosed that 26-year-old Yusuf Ibrahim, a former hotel employee, had been arrested over the murder of a hotel staff member, 28-year-old Opeyemi Bello, whose body was found in her room on November 16.

“Investigations showed the suspect scaled the hotel fence at night with the intention to steal. When the deceased sighted him, he strangled her with a bedspread,” CP Ojo stated, adding that the suspect had confessed and would be charged in court.

In another robbery case, he said two suspects, Ibrahim Abubakar and Dele Emmanuel, were arrested after a stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max was traced to them following a violent attack on a woman in the Basin area of Ilorin. A stolen Toyota Camry belonging to the victim was also recovered.

The CP further announced the arrest of four others, Umar Adamu, Aliyu Umar, Lukman Idris and Kazeem Ahmed, believed to have carried out coordinated robberies against students in Offa. Several smartphones and electronic devices were recovered.

“Journalists remain trusted partners in our collective security efforts,” CP Ojo said, assuring residents that the command will intensify surveillance and sustain its ongoing offensive until “all criminal elements are completely dismantled,” reaffirming its commitment to a safer Kwara.

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