The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has successfully apprehended three suspected armed bandits and recovered 54 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition in the Baruten Local Government Area.

This significant breakthrough was disclosed on Wednesday by the State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, during a media briefing held on the sidelines of the Kwara State Police Security Summit in Ilorin. The suspects were intercepted at the Banni community following sustained intelligence-led operations designed to flush out criminal elements migrating into the state's borderlands.

During the operation, tactical teams recovered the ammunition, which the Commissioner described as a critical lead in the ongoing offensive against violent crime. He further revealed that the command is currently on the trail of the "end users" and potential sponsors of the recovered munitions, assuring the public that investigations are being intensified to dismantle the entire criminal network.

Highlighting the broader context of the summit, CP Ojo noted that while the police are making steady progress, security remains a collective responsibility that requires seamless collaboration between the force and local communities. He maintained that the success of community policing hinges on the willingness of stakeholders to provide timely information and support the "Police-Public-Partnership" initiative.

The Commissioner also used the occasion to clarify that several other suspects have been arrested and profiled across various flashpoints in the state over the past month. He admitted that while logistical and manpower challenges persist, the command is determined to use every available resource, including regular security summits at the divisional level, to proffer long-term solutions to banditry and kidnapping.

This latest arrest in the Baruten axis serves as a testament to the renewed vigilance of the command as the yuletide season approaches, aimed at ensuring that Kwara remains a safe haven for its residents and visitors alike.

"We are not relenting in the fight against insecurity and we are winning the war. I was just informed that three more suspects have been arrested with 54 rounds of AK 47 ammunition recovered," the commissioner said.

He added that investigations were ongoing to trace the end users of the recovered ammunition and dismantle the wider criminal network behind the suspects.

"Our men are already working to get the end users of the ammunition. This arrest took place in Banni community of Baruten Local Government Area," he stated.

The police commissioner further disclosed that several other suspects had been arrested across the state and were currently undergoing profiling.

Ojo stressed that security is a collective responsibility, noting that law enforcement agencies alone cannot effectively tackle insecurity without the cooperation of communities.

"We need strong collaboration with communities to proffer lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state. That is why this security summit is important, to harness ideas from stakeholders and strengthen engagement with communities," he said.

While admitting challenges such as manpower shortages, inadequate vehicles, and logistics constraints, the commissioner maintained that community partnership remains critical to achieving sustainable security.

"Even if we have a million police personnel, insecurity cannot be solved without community collaboration. Working together is the only way to achieve the des ired results," Ojo added.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in his address at the event called for collective efforts to ensure effective policing to secure the state.

Represented by his special Adviser and Councillor, Alhaji Salaudeen Salahu, the governor said the current administration has prioritized the issue of security on since inception .

He said three security experts have been appointed at different levels to support the state government on the issue of security.

Governor AbdulRazaq thanked President Bola Tinubu and the office of the National Security Adviser for prioritising the security of lives and property in the state and the country in general.

He further disclaimed that the state government does not have any hand in the viral video of criminals circulating on the social media.

In his lecture a security expert Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG)Adegboye Olafimihan said the security of the state should not be the exclusive responsibility of the government alone.

He said all hands must be on deck to ensure safety and security in the nooks and crannies of the state and the country in general.

He called for adequate policing strategy and proper management of security threats in the society.