Police Foil Cannabis Smuggling, Nab Kidnappers in Kwara Crackdown

Police Foil Cannabis Smuggling, Nab Kidnappers in Kwara Crackdown

By Abiola Adigun
Albarka 89.9 FM

The Kwara State Police Command has intercepted 127 bags of cannabis concealed under tubers of yam and arrested a group of suspected kidnappers in a major security breakthrough.
The operation, carried out on September 26 along the Babanla–Oreke–Oke-Ode axis, was a joint effort between the police, operatives of the National Security Adviser’s office, the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), and local vigilante groups.
Two suspects, identified as Dan-Teni Haruna and Rabiu Ibrahim, both from Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, were arrested for allegedly trafficking cannabis into Kwara.
In a related operation, security operatives also apprehended Mohammed Abubakar, Hussain, and Tukur Ibrahim, a notorious kidnapper linked to the August 8 attack on Babanla community. Police authorities said discreet investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged in court.
Kwara, like many North Central states, has faced rising insecurity in recent years, with bandit attacks, kidnapping incidents, and drug trafficking threatening local communities. Security analysts have often pointed to the Babanla–Oke-Ode axis as a vulnerable corridor exploited by criminal gangs.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, praised the synergy among security agencies and local vigilantes, stressing that Kwara will not be allowed to become a safe haven for criminals.
“This is a strong signal to criminal elements. Kwara is not a hiding place for crime or drugs,” Ojo said.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned after investigations are concluded.