The anti-kidnapping team of the Kwara State police command, in collaboration with local vigilantes and forest guards, arrested five suspected kidnappers at Oke-Iya Community. 

The command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects were linked to the recent abduction of five persons in Idiya community, two of whom later escaped. 

The statement read, “On 23rd April, 2026, at about 1630hrs, operatives of the command’s anti-kidnapping team, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local vigilantes and forest guards, carried out a coordinated operation at Oke-Iya Community. 

“The operation led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Idris Umar, Muhammed Usman, and Abdullahi Abubakar, who are linked to the recent invasion of Idiya community, where five persons were kidnapped.

“Further investigation revealed that two of the kidnapped victims had earlier escaped from captivity. Ongoing investigation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of two additional suspects, namely Mohammad Awal and Sani Mallam Musa, in connection with the crime.”

The command said the operatives recovered a locally fabricated revolver rifle adapted to fire AK-47 ammunition, along with eight rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.

It added that the investigation is ongoing, after which they will be arraigned in court.