Security operatives attached to the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), working in synergy with the Kwara State Police Command, have apprehended two suspected members of a criminal network involved in kidnapping and arms trafficking in the state.
The arrests were carried out on Saturday, December 13, 2025, during a discreet, intelligence-driven operation along the Omu-Aran–Oko Road, a route believed to be frequently used by criminal couriers supplying bandits operating in forested areas of Kwara State.
According to security sources, the operation was the outcome of sustained surveillance targeting logistics and supply lines that support bandit activities within the state. The exercise initially led to the interception of a suspected arms courier. Information obtained during preliminary questioning reportedly guided operatives to a second suspect described as a notorious kidnapping figure operating in the same area.
The two suspects were identified as Abubakar Mohammed Lawal, said to be from Yamatawa village in Warawa Local Government Area of Kano State, and Abubakar Manu, a native of Oro-Ago village in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of a black Bagco bag allegedly meant for delivery to criminal elements hiding in the Oro-Ago forest. Items found inside the bag included five Baofeng walkie-talkies, commonly used by armed groups for communication and coordination during operations.
Investigators revealed that the suspects confessed the consignment originated from Jos, Plateau State, and was transported through the Kano State Motor Park in Ilorin before they were intercepted by security operatives. The recovered items were reportedly intended for delivery to a feared bandit leader identified as Nagala Danladi.
Security sources described Danladi as the commander of a large armed group believed to consist of over 300 bandits operating around the Oro-Ago axis of Kwara State, with links to criminal activities in neighboring states.
Further intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated that the arrested suspects are part of a wider criminal network responsible for kidnapping, armed robbery, and violent attacks across Kano, Kwara, and Niger states. They reportedly admitted to playing dual roles as kidnappers and suppliers of arms and communication equipment to various bandit groups in the region.
Police authorities say investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and dismantle the broader supply network fueling insecurity in the area. The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, as security agencies intensify efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping across the region.
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