Kwara State Police Command has thwarted a planned armed robbery and kidnapping in Ilorin and arrested suspects believed to be central to the plot.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the incident came to light on November 10 when a resident of Gerewu, Ilorin, Abdulazeez Ishaq, reported that his friend, Adekoya Opeyemi (popularly known as Justice), admitted he had been hired to kill him and steal his Honda Accord (2013 model).
Daily Source reports that investigations revealed that the plan involved tying up the victim, locking him in the trunk of his car, and driving to the Unity area, where another suspect, Abdulwahab Ahmad, was expected to take possession of the vehicle before heading to Ibadan.
Police operatives immediately launched a covert operation and advised the complainant to cooperate to aid the arrest.
Officers apprehended Adekoya at the agreed meeting point, preventing what authorities described as a potentially deadly robbery and kidnapping.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, commended the swift response of the officers and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasising that public cooperation continues to help foil criminal activities.
He also acknowledged the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, noting that the IGP’s strategic leadership is yielding positive results nationwide.
The suspects are in custody while the investigation continues.
In a related development, the Ogun State Police Command also foiled a robbery attempt in Sagamu on Wednesday, responding to a distress call from community leaders and impounding the operational vehicle used by the suspects.