Troops Arrest Five Suspected Criminals With Concealed AK-47 Rifles

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested five suspected bandits in Kwara State.

The suspects were nabbed on Thursday at a checkpoint along Share town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state after six AK-47s were found with them.

This was disclosed on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.

He said the arrest of the suspected bandits came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla town, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

“Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along the Share axis.

They concealed six AK-47s under the chacoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon.

“They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation,” Ajakaye said.

Their arrest came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

The suspects were accused of acting as couriers for kidnapping gangs in the axis.

They were arrested while hiding, during a surveillance operation by government-backed local vigilantes around Babanla on Wednesday.

“They have been transferred to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation,” the CPS stated.

He also said that many criminals were reported eliminated in a coordinated assault by government vigilante forces in Omu Aran-Eruku earlier on Tuesday.

“Six motorcycles, assault rifles, and many loaded magazines were recovered from their hideouts.

“Four women and two young men, all suspected to be abduction victims, were rescued and handed to the police divisional post in Omu Aran,” the statement added.