Kwara Police Arrest Suspect in N1.6m AK-47 Purchase Bid

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper who allegedly paid N1.6 million for an AK47 rifle in a bid to elevate his status within his criminal gang. The suspect, identified as Sanda Aliyu, was apprehended in Kaiama Local Government Area on August 3, 2026, following intelligence that he was negotiating the firearm purchase.

According to police, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section received actionable intelligence on August 3 indicating that Aliyu was in talks with another suspect, Aliyu Mohammed, to procure the rifle. Detectives launched an immediate operation and arrested Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered. Mohammed remains at large.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, the command's spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement during interrogation. He disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid toward the purchase. Aliyu allegedly told investigators that his purpose for acquiring the firearm was to enable him rise to the position of a "Boss" within his current kidnapping gang before ultimately breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal network.