Kwara Police Arrest Sanda Aliyu Over ₦1.6m AK-47 Deal Tied to Kidnapping Gang

ILORIN — The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, identified as Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged plan to purchase an AK-47 rifle for ₦1.6 million in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

Findings by ValidViewNetwork show that Aliyu was arrested by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Section on August 3, 2026, following actionable intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, currently at large, for the procurement of the firearm.

Further checks by ValidViewNetwork indicate the suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction during questioning, disclosing the amount already paid toward the rifle.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi, Aliyu further revealed that his motive for acquiring the weapon was to rise to the position of “Boss” within his current kidnapping gang, before eventually breaking away to establish and lead a criminal outfit of his own.

Investigators trace the wider network

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Findings by ValidViewNetwork reveal that police investigators have since commenced further verification of the transaction, working to establish the identities of other individuals connected to the attempted purchase and determine the full extent of the criminal network behind it.

Ejire-Adeyemi said the ongoing investigation is expected to provide further leads into the circumstances surrounding the attempted acquisition, identify other persons linked to the illicit arms deal, and unravel the broader criminal activities associated with the gang.

Police said Aliyu remains in custody as the investigation continues, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend his alleged supplier, Aliyu Mohammed, and to identify any other persons connected to the attempted transaction.

Part of a wider security push in Kwara

The arrest comes amid heightened security operations by agencies across parts of Kwara State, following a series of kidnappings and other violent crimes recorded in some communities in recent months.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state.

“No respite,” CP assures residents

Acknowledging what he described as the strategic policing direction of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, Adekimi said the command would continue deploying its lawful intelligence and operational resources to protect residents.

“There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” the CP said, adding that operations would be sustained until communities across the state were sufficiently secured and residents could go about their activities without fear.

What happens next

As of this report, Aliyu Mohammed remains at large, and police have not disclosed how many additional suspects may be linked to the network once verification of the transaction is complete. ValidViewNetwork will continue to follow developments in this case.