Suspected bandits flaunting arms, ransom on social media nabbed

Recovered arms from suspected bandits displayed by the Kwara State Police Command before newsmen at the command headquarters in Ilorin on Friday. Credit: Dare Akogun

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Two suspected bandits and kidnapping kingpins responsible for violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states have been arrested by the police.

The suspects, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Friday, were arrested on December 19 along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The FPRO said the suspects, Abubakar Usman and Shehu Mohammadu, were arrested in a covert operation carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team attached to Kwara State, in collaboration with operatives of the state police.

Hundeyin added that Usman was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.

“During the operation, the following items were recovered from the suspects: one brand new Honda Ace 125 motorcycle, red in colour, valued at N1,850,000.00, which investigations revealed was purchased with proceeds of ransom payments; N500,000.00 cash, being unspent ransom money; and one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious banditry and kidnapping gang terrorising communities across Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kwara states.

“Further findings indicate that the gang also doubles as suppliers of arms and ammunition to criminal elements. Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to enable the arrest of other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional weapons,” Hundeyin said.

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