The Kwara State Police Command said its new strategies for prevention and detection of crimes in the state have paid off as it has recorded major breakthroughs in its operation, in the last two months.
The command said consequent upon recent reports of activities of criminal elements in Kwara State, particularly, cult-related crimes, shop breaking and stealing, of special interest, cases of POS theft and frauds in Ilorin Metropolis and Offa axis, the Commissioner of Police, CP, Tuesday Assayomo re-strategised, devised and deployed new operational methods in the State which culminated in the arrest of members of different cult groups in Ilorin.
The CP at a press briefing on Friday gave a record of the command’s performance for the month of March and April, as he said “to further amplify our resolve to continue to make crime and criminality a dangerous venture for the practitioners in Kwara State”.
He reported that the police’s new operational methods in the State culminated in the arrest of members of different cult groups in Ilorin among who were fifteen suspects that had been charged to court for various criminal offences and are presently remanded in correctional centres.
He said seven different categories of firearms were recovered within the period under review.
According to him, five confirmed shop-breakers criminal -receivers were arrested and charged to court with stolen items ranging from deep freezers, generators, motorcycles, television sets, home appliances including rolls of Ankara and several pairs of shoes recovered from them.
Some suspected ritualists with human parts were equally arrested and charged to court.
He narrated the story of one Mumuni Baba 'M', who was charged for illegal possession of firearms and being a member of a secret cult. He said one locally-made and an English pistol with one live ammunition was found on him.
Reviewing the incident, he said “On 6/5/2022 at about 1130hrs, while on routine stop and search patrol along Gambari area of Ilorin, a team of policemen attached to C Division, Oja Oba Ilorin, sighted an approaching motorcycle, in an attempt to evade search, the rider jumped off the motorcycle and took to his heels, he was given a hot chase, eventually arrested and searched, the above-listed fire-arms were recovered from him.
“On interrogation, he stated that he was invited by one Abdulahi 'm' of Okolowo area of Ilorin presently at large to Ilorin for a killing assignment”.
He said efforts by Anti- Kidnapping unit to arrest other members of the gang were in progress.
Another, male, Olagunju Abdulfatai Tijani Ifeanyi, who was suspected by policemen on surveillance patrol was arrested for belonging to a gang of thieves. Investigation into his activities, police said “revealed he is a member of a secret cult.
“The suspect confessed he belongs to Eiye confraternity, and he is no2 in Ilorin zone.
“He stated that, during one of the cult's escapades, himself and the other suspects, names withheld (for now) at large, armed with one English Pistol and a locally fabricated pistol went and attacked and killed one Ismaila Alabi AKA Abbey, a barber at his barbing shop in Agbooba area of Ilorin on 21/4/2022.
“Olagunju further confessed that sometime in February 2021 he had also shot and killed one Emmanuel 'M' surname unknown, a student of Human kinetic Education, University of Ilorin, in a bid to fast tracking his ascension to the top position in his cult group.
“Upon enquiry as to the source of his weapons, he confirmed that he took possession of his late father's pistol, (a retired army major), which he used in the killings he participated in”.
“The pistol according to him is currently with a member of the Eiye cult group presently at large.
The CP said investigation into the matter was ongoing for possible arrest and prosecution of the suspects. He is being charged for Criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of fire-arm, being a member of a secret cult and culpable homicide
The trio of Abdulsallam Abubakar, Olamide Boluwatife and Olayemi Ismaila, all-male suspects are being held for criminal conspiracy, theft, belonging to a gang of thieves and fraud.
“Based on actionable intelligence, a three-man gang, whose specialty is stealing and fraudulently exchanging POS Terminal Machines in Ilorin and its environs were arrested on 9/5/2022, at Baruten motor park Agric area, Ilorin, in the process of perfecting the act of swapping and stealing a POS machine from an unsuspecting operator.
“Investigation of the case revealed that the suspects have successfully operated, swapped and stolen about 35 POS Terminal Machines within Ilorin and Offa alone. The affected POS operators have identified the three suspects to have separately stolen their machines and a total sum of #1.7miilion naira converted from the stolen machines to their personal use”. The CP told newsmen.
The suspects in all the cases, he said would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the cases are satisfactorily concluded.
The command re-assured Kwara residents of its unshaken determination to ensure the state continues to enjoy her status of being one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria, advising law-abiding citizens to go about their normal lawful businesses without any fear of attack or intimidation.
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