Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kwara State Police Command has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate with the arrest of its alleged leader, Umar Yabani, popularly known as “Yabo,” and nine other suspects during a series of intelligence-led operations across the state.
The breakthrough, which also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and other firearms, was announced on Tuesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
According to the police, the first in the chain of arrests occurred on May 28, 2026, when operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad responded to the abduction of a resident in the Agbeyangi area of Ilorin. Acting on credible intelligence, they launched a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Surajo Abubakar.
“The arrest of Abubakar provided critical intelligence that significantly advanced the investigation that resulted in the arrest of one Umar Yabani alias ‘Yabo,’ identified as the leader of the syndicate as well as two other suspects, Isah A. Sule and Umar Sani,” the police spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. During that phase of the operation, security forces recovered one AK-47 rifle and one pump-action gun from the suspects.
Preliminary investigations linked the suspects to several kidnapping incidents across Ilorin East, Edu, and Ifelodun Local Government Areas, as well as neighboring communities within Kwara State. Following the arrests, investigators intensified efforts to dismantle the remaining elements of the criminal network. Subsequent intelligence obtained from the suspects led operatives to identified locations and associates connected to the syndicate.
This led to a follow-up operation on June 4, 2026, conducted in collaboration with the Forest Guard and local vigilante groups across strategic locations within Edu and Ifelodun Local Government Areas. The operation resulted in the arrest of three additional suspected members of the syndicate – Bello Alhaji Maidabo, 25; Shehu Malami, 23; and Riskuwa Babuga, 18 – who were apprehended in a forest near Tsaragi. A locally fabricated single-barrel firearm loaded with two live cartridges was also recovered during this second operation.
The command stated that preliminary investigations indicated the newly arrested suspects played various roles within the criminal network. They are now assisting investigators with valuable information aimed at rescuing victims believed to still be in captivity and apprehending other fleeing members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, described the breakthrough as a reflection of the operational directives and strategic vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, towards strengthening intelligence-led policing, dismantling criminal networks, and enhancing public safety nationwide.
He reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and actionable information.
The arrest of the alleged kingpin, Yabo, and the recovery of sophisticated weaponry is seen as a major win for security forces in Kwara, a state that has experienced a worrying uptick in abduction cases in its rural areas. The police have vowed to sustain the momentum and ensure that all members of the criminal network are brought to justice.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments