Dare Babalola
Scores of suspected kidnappers were arrested on Tuesday evening at Olayinka along Ajasepo/Igbaja/Oke-Ode highway in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, following intelligence reports that bandits’ informants were posing as beggars in towns and villages across Kwara South Senatorial District.
The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by security operatives to combat crime in Kwara State, according to Zubair Olaitan, Coordinator, Joint Security Watch Kwara South Senatorial District.
“We got intelligence that bandits from Baba Sango and Oro-Ago are spreading out to other parts of Kwara South,” Olaitan said, adding that one informant disguised as a beggar was caught in Igbaja and revealed his sponsors were operating from Kaara Market, Ajasepo, and Olayinka near Oke-Ode.
“One of their informants, disguised as a beggar, was caught in Igbaja yesterday. He spilled that his sponsors are operating from Kaara Market, Ajasepo, and Olayinka near Oke-Ode. He’s been handed over to Anti-Kidnapping Squad, AKS. Time for swift action,” Olaitan told journalists on Wednesday.
Kwara has been hit by a wave of deadly attacks. The latest incident occurred on February 3, 2026, when extremist militants attacked the villages of Woro and Nuku, killing at least 162 residents.
The attackers, believed to be linked to Boko Haram, targeted villagers who refused to adopt their version of Sharia law, torching homes and shops, and kidnapping several people.
The Nigerian government has responded to the attacks, with President Bola Tinubu deploying an army battalion to the region to combat the terrorists.
The Senate has also urged the Federal Government to intensify rescue efforts and provide support to affected communities. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also vowed to pursue justice for the victims, stating that Kwara will not bow to fear or intimidation.
