Kwara police capture 46 suspected bandits

Kwara Police Parade 46 Suspected Bandits, Deny Arrest of Babanla Monarch

The Kwara State Police Command has paraded 46 suspected bandits amid an ongoing crackdown on criminal networks across the state.

The suspects, intercepted on Thursday while riding motorcycles around the Babanla axis of Ifelodun Local Government Area, were transported under heavy security to the state police headquarters in Ilorin. They are currently undergoing profiling by security agencies.

The operation, according to sources, followed weeks of surveillance in communities plagued by violent attacks and kidnappings. The Babanla community has recently been a hotspot, with multiple residents killed and several abducted in bandit raids.

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Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo addressed circulating reports alleging that the Oba of Babanla, Oba Aliyu Adegboyega Yusuf (Arojojoye II), and his wives were arrested in connection with banditry.

A viral post had claimed that N120 million traced to proceeds of banditry was recovered—N90 million allegedly from the monarch’s palace and N30 million from his wife’s bank account.

Ojo dismissed the claims as false and misleading, stressing that the traditional ruler was never in custody.

“The story about the Oba of Babanla being in custody was already circulating before myself and other service chiefs visited the community. Together with the governor, we met the traditional ruler in his palace. Presently, I don’t have any traditional ruler in my custody,” Ojo said.

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The police boss also denied knowledge of the purported funds, urging the public to rely on credible sources rather than social media speculation.

He assured that security agencies remain committed to flushing out criminal gangs in Kwara State while protecting innocent citizens from false accusations.