Hijab Brother, Two Others Arrested Over Kidnapping in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to multiple kidnapping operations in the state, including a man intercepted while wearing female clothing and carrying charms.

The police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement, saying the first suspect, identified as Aliyu Isiaka, was arrested by Forest Guards operatives at Okolowo, Ilorin, on October 24, 2026.

Isiaka, a resident of Ga’a-Kpapa village in Moro Local Government Area, was reportedly wearing female attire and carrying a polythene bag containing assorted charms when he was intercepted at about 6pm.

According to the police, the suspect confessed during interrogation to belonging to a nine-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly led by a man identified as Juli, who resides at Fulani Camp, Ga’a-Kpapa, and is currently at large.

Isiaka reportedly told investigators that he joined the gang in August 2026 and participated in three kidnapping operations in Oloru, Alapa and Malete, where ransom payments were allegedly collected.

The police spokesperson said a joint team of police operatives and Forest Guards subsequently raided the suspected kidnappers’ camp on October 25, leading to the arrest of two other suspects.

The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the alleged kidnapping network to three, while efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the gang.

Ejire-Adeyemi said the suspects were undergoing further investigation and would be arraigned in court after the process was concluded.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, described the operation as a significant step towards dismantling kidnapping networks and improving security in vulnerable communities.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, collaboration with other security agencies and efforts to apprehend criminal suspects.