Kwara: Police kill bandit, nab 16 suspects, recover 98 rounds of ammunition

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Police operatives arrested 16 suspects and the recovered a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and logistics used by criminal elements across the State in crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes in various parts of Kwara State in the month of April.

Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the spokesperson for the Kwara Police Command who announced this in a statement on Saturday listed the exhibits recovered during various operations within the month to include 98 rounds of ammunition (comprising 20 assault rounds and 78 AK-47 rounds), additional AK-47 live ammunition, multiple locally fabricated firearms including a shotgun, cut-to-size shotgun, pistol, and a revolver rifle, as well as a Toyota Matrix vehicle and mobile communication devices, among other incriminating items.

The police spokesperson also said operatives of the Command successfully carried out a rescue operation at Apata Aje settlement, leading to the neutralization of a suspected bandit during a gun duel.

According to the statement, the Command acted after receiving credible intelligence that on 28th April, 2026 at about 2300hrs, armed men invaded the settlement and abducted two persons.

Based on the intelligence, a combined team of Police operatives and National Forest Guards launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

“During an intensive bush-combing exercise, the operatives made contact with the fleeing suspects, who engaged the team with heavy gunfire. In the ensuing exchange, one suspected bandit was neutralized, while others escaped with gunshot injuries,” the police spokesperson said.

“Further exhibits recovered at the scene and from related operations include live cartridges, expended ammunition, mobile phones (including a Samsung A2S), and suspected criminal charms, all pointing to the organized and armed nature of the criminal network.

“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi psc, mnips, reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates and sustaining pressure on kidnapping and banditry networks across Kwara State,”said Ejire-Adeyemi.