Kwara: Police Arrest Three Alleged Members Of Criminal Syndicate
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a criminal syndicate linked to the vandalisation of government-installed solar lights and armed robbery activities along the Asa Dam/Dangote Road corridor in Ilorin metropolis.
The arrests were carried out by the operatives of the newly created Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) during an intelligence-led operation around the Tanke area of Ilorin in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to the Command, the operation followed sustained surveillance and credible intelligence reports from residents over increasing suspicious activities within the Asa Dam and Dangote Road axis.
The Police disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belong to a wider criminal network allegedly responsible for several crimes across parts of Ilorin metropolis.
Items recovered from the suspects included two locally fabricated pistols, pliers believed to have been used for vandalism operations, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, praised the VCRU operatives for what he described as intelligence-driven and proactive policing.
He said the success of the operation demonstrated the command’s renewed commitment to surveillance and crime prevention in identified flashpoints across the state.
“The success reflects the Command’s sustained surveillance posture in identified flashpoints and its commitment to the safety and security of residents,” the CP stated.
He further assured residents that the Command would not allow criminal elements to operate freely in any part of the State, adding that
efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other members of the syndicate as well as individuals suspected to be buying stolen items from the group.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
