Police dismiss Boko Haram arrest rumours in Ilorin

Kwara State Police Command has dismissed social media claims alleging that suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Ilorin, insisting that the report was false and capable of causing panic among residents.

The command said the incident being circulated online involved a routine stop and search operation carried out on a truck transporting Fulani travellers through the state capital.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said no Boko Haram suspect was apprehended anywhere in Kwara State.

According to the statement, operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit intercepted the vehicle during an intelligence-based surveillance operation conducted on Tuesday night.

The police explained that the truck and its occupants were subjected to security screening in line with standard procedures.

“The Command states emphatically that no Boko Haram member was arrested anywhere within the state,” the statement said.

It added that the passengers were thoroughly profiled and searched, but no weapon, incriminating item, or threat to public safety was found.

The travellers reportedly informed security operatives that they were heading to Jigawa State. Their details were subsequently documented before they were allowed to continue their journey under police escort out of Ilorin metropolis.

The command warned members of the public against spreading unverified security information, noting that false reports could undermine peace and create unnecessary fear.

Meanwhile, the police confirmed the arrest of three suspected robbers and vandals in another operation conducted around the Asa Dam and Dangote Road area of Ilorin.

The suspects were apprehended by officers of the VCRU after complaints from residents over repeated criminal activities in the area.

Police said intelligence gathering and surveillance led operatives to suspicious movements around Tanke in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the command, investigations linked the suspects to a criminal gang allegedly involved in vandalising public solar light installations and carrying out robbery operations within parts of the metropolis.

Recovered items included two locally fabricated pistols, pliers, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

The police added that preliminary findings suggested the suspects were connected to a wider criminal network operating within Ilorin and surrounding communities.

Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, praised the efforts of the VCRU and reiterated the command’s determination to sustain operations against criminal elements across the state.

He assured residents that the command would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven policing to maintain security and public order.