Key points
- Kwara Police arrested suspected kidnapper Sanda Aliyu in Kaiama LGA.
- He allegedly attempted to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6m.
- Police said N1.6m had already been paid for the weapon.
- The suspect allegedly wanted the rifle to become a “Boss” within his gang.
- Police are searching for Aliyu Mohammed, who allegedly negotiated the firearm deal.
- Investigators are working to uncover other members and activities linked to the criminal network.
Main Story
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, identified as Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged attempt to procure an AK-47 rifle for N1.6m in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Aliyu was arrested on August 3, 2026, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section following actionable intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who remains at large, for the purchase of the firearm.
The command said its detectives swiftly acted on the intelligence and apprehended the suspect before the weapon could be delivered. During interrogation, Aliyu allegedly admitted his involvement in the attempted arms transaction.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspect disclosed that N1.6m had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle. He reportedly told investigators that he intended to use the firearm to rise to the position of a “Boss” within his kidnapping gang before breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal group.
The police said the development has prompted further investigations into the attempted transaction, with detectives working to identify other individuals involved and determine the wider structure and activities of the alleged criminal network.
The arrest comes amid intensified security operations in parts of Kwara State following reported cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in some communities.
The Issues
The attempted purchase highlights the link between kidnapping and illicit arms trafficking, with access to sophisticated firearms potentially strengthening the operational capacity of criminal gangs.
The alleged plan by the suspect to acquire a firearm for leadership within the gang also raises concerns about the possible emergence or expansion of independent criminal cells in the state.
Police investigations will therefore be critical in determining the source of the firearm, identifying other financiers or collaborators and dismantling the wider network behind the attempted transaction.
What’s Being Said
Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State
“The suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle.”
She said the ongoing investigation would help identify other persons connected to the transaction, establish the full extent of the network and uncover broader criminal activities associated with the gang.
Ojo Adekimi, Commissioner of Police, Kwara State
“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements.”
Adekimi said the command would continue to deploy lawful intelligence and operational resources to protect residents and secure communities across the state.
What’s Next
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. The command is also intensifying efforts to arrest Aliyu Mohammed, who allegedly negotiated the firearm purchase.
Investigators are expected to trace the financial transaction, establish the source of the proposed AK-47 rifle and identify other persons linked to the alleged kidnapping network.
Bottom Line
The arrest has exposed an alleged attempt by a suspected kidnapper to acquire an AK-47 rifle as part of a plan to rise within a criminal gang and establish his own group. The ongoing investigation could provide security agencies with critical intelligence for dismantling the wider kidnapping and arms-trafficking network in Kwara.
