The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, identified as Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged attempt to purchase an AK-47 rifle in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest followed actionable intelligence received by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section, which enabled the police to disrupt the alleged arms transaction before the weapon could be delivered.

According to the command's spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the intelligence was received on August 3, 2026, indicating that Aliyu was allegedly negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, to procure an AK-47 rifle.

She said detectives immediately launched a targeted operation, leading to Aliyu's arrest before the transaction could be completed.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted his involvement and disclosed that he had already paid N1.6 million towards the purchase of the firearm.

The police spokesperson said the suspect further revealed that he intended to acquire the rifle to rise to the position of a "boss" within his alleged kidnapping gang before eventually breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal group.

The command said ongoing investigations had provided additional leads into the attempted arms transaction and would assist detectives in identifying other individuals connected to the alleged network.

The investigation is also expected to help the police establish the full extent of the group's activities and uncover other criminal operations linked to the gang.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain its offensive against criminal elements across the state.

Adekimi, while acknowledging the policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, said the command would continue to deploy lawful intelligence and operational resources to strengthen security and protect communities across Kwara State.