The Kwara State Police Command has uncovered a suspected ritual trafficking attempt and intercepted concealed ammunition in a series of coordinated operations across the state, intensifying its crackdown on criminal networks.
Parading the breakthroughs in Ilorin on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, said the successes followed intelligence-driven policing and joint efforts with other security agencies.
He declared that the operations underscored the command’s resolve to deny criminals operating space in the state, assuring residents of improved safety.
Top among the incidents was the arrest of a suspect, Hamza Woru, in Kaiama for unlawful possession of a human skull allegedly exhumed from a deceased relative and intended for ritual sale.
Police said the suspect was apprehended while attempting to dispose of the skull, while an accomplice remains on the run.
Adekimi confirmed that the matter had been charged to court in line with state laws prohibiting trafficking in human parts.
In a separate operation, operatives intercepted an unregistered Toyota Previa along Ajase-Ipo Road on April 10, recovering 98 rounds of live ammunition concealed in a bag of garri.
The vehicle was reportedly entering Kwara from Kogi State.
According to the police chief, the method of concealment suggested a deliberate attempt to evade security checks and facilitate illegal arms movement across state boundaries.
He added that three suspects had been linked to the operation, with one allegedly paid N1.3 million to procure the ammunition, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The command also arrested two suspected cultists, Lukman Abdul-Salam, alias “Ijaya,” and Aliu Ismaila, known as “Gambia,” over a shop burglary in the Odota area of Ilorin, where goods valued at about N2.5 million were stolen.
Although both suspects denied involvement in the theft, they reportedly admitted affiliation with the Eiye confraternity. An empty AK-47 magazine was recovered from their residence, heightening suspicions of deeper criminal links.
Similarly, two other suspects, Fabiyi Benson Seyi and Sodiq Rasheed, were arrested in Ganmo following a distress call.
Police recovered a locally fabricated cut-to-size shotgun and a live cartridge, confirming their alleged ties to a cult group terrorising the area.
In another development, a 29-year-old suspect, Umaru Aliu, was intercepted during a routine patrol along the Oroago axis. Items recovered from him included mobile phones, chargers and a POS machine.
Police said his inconsistent account raised suspicion, and he is currently under investigation for possible involvement in kidnapping.
Reiterating the command’s strategy, Adekimi said the police were not only responding to crimes but actively dismantling organised criminal cells.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies, stressing that collective action remains vital to sustaining peace and security in Kwara State.