Troops of the Nigerian Army have apprehended five suspected bandits in Kwara State.
The suspects were intercepted on Thursday at a checkpoint near Share town in Ifelodun Local Government Area after six AK-47 rifles were discovered in their possession.
The development was announced on Friday by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor.
According to him, the arrest came just a day after six individuals, believed to be couriers for kidnappers, were caught in Babanla town, also in Ifelodun LGA, with a large supply of bread and petrol.
“Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along the Share axis. They concealed six AK-47s under the chacoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon.
“They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation,” Ajakaye said.
The CPS added that the earlier group of six suspects had been arrested during a surveillance operation carried out by government-backed local vigilantes in Babanla on Wednesday.
“They have been transferred to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation,” he said.
Ajakaye further disclosed that several criminals were neutralized during a coordinated assault by government vigilante forces in Omu Aran-Eruku on Tuesday.
“Six motorcycles, assault rifles, and many loaded magazines were recovered from their hideouts.
“Four women and two young men, all suspected to be abduction victims, were rescued and handed to the police divisional post in Omu Aran,” the statement added.