Date: 2018-06-27

Kwara state police command has expressed worry over the alarming increase in the number of teenagers involved in illicit drug use, unprovoked attacks, cultism and armed robbery in the state, particularly, in Ilorin metropolis in the Kwara Central district of the state.

Speaking with journalists while parading some 12 suspected criminals arrested from different parts of the state in Ilorin yesterday, the state police commissioner, Aminu Pai Saleh, who said that the arrests were made in the last six weeks, added that 10 murder cases, 10 armed robbery cases and unlawful possession of fire arm, among others were recorded in period under review.

Saleh said that magnitude of the drug problems among teenagers and some irresponsible adults in the state is huge, adding that consequences had usually been cultism and armed robbery cases, among others.

The police boss, who said that criminal activities in the state cut across all demographics, added that each district has its own peculiar crime type.

"Current crime statistics in the state indicates that homicide cases in prevalent in Kwara North, especially among the Fulani youths, while illicit drug and other substance abuse, cultism and unprovoked attacks are mostly common in the Ilorin metropolis. Farmer/herdsmen conflict is seen more in the Kwara South district of the state", he said.

The police commissioner then called on community leaders in the areas to do more at sensitizing their people against criminal activities and synergize with police to come up with workable strategies to address their peculiar challenges.

He also advised parents to monitor activities of their children, saying that the command was ready to partner with individuals, groups and relevant agencies to provide adequate security for every citizen in the state.

The commissioner of police, who gave an example of lawlessness that resulted in gruesome murder, said that the murder case was reported in Gwanara police station on June 14, 2018 by one Alhaji Musa Meisa, the magaji of Bukuno Fulani camp against one Yale Mohammed of Bwen camp in same Gwanara, who allegedly killed one Umoru Kinah, a Fulani by inflicting a deep matchet cut on his neck over a misunderstanding.

He also said that six of the10 armed robbery cases recorded within six weeks had been successfully busted, adding that a member of a five-man armed robbery gang, Adekanola Adebayo was arrested for attacking Oluwasheun Ishola of Gbegede area of Amayo carting away Toyota matrix, one plasma TV, jewelries, one Samsung C7 phone, and one Iphone.

Saleh also said that three members of an armed gang were arrested at old Kara Kulende Ilorin on May 17, 2018 while Muslim faithful were preparing to start last Ramadhan fast. He said that the hoodlums at about 12:20 am robbed one Michael oyindamola and three of her roommates of items such as three Nokia phones, one generator, two wrist watches, one LG phone, one Iphone and cash sum of N65,000.

Item recovered from the hoodlums include one UTC axe, one UTC cutlass, one jackknife, one dagger knife, one pocket knife, one toy gun and black face cap, police command said, adding that the suspects would be charged to court.