The Kwara State Police Command has arrested eight suspects linked to a string of armed robberies and homicides, following what authorities described as a "co-ordinated, intelligence-driven offensive" against criminal gangs across the state. Officers also recovered two Lexus vehicles and other stolen valuables.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday at the Command Headquarters in Ilorin, Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo stated that one of the breakthroughs was the arrest of 52-year-old Olatunji Samson, who allegedly led a violent robbery operation at Mai Gida Estate, Amoyo, on 21 November.

He said the command received a distress call at approximately 9 pm on the day of the incident, reporting a brutal home invasion in which the victim and his private security guard were tied up and assaulted before the robbers escaped with a Lexus RS 350, $10,000, N2.95m, mobile phones, gold jewellery, and clothing items.

"Acting on actionable intelligence, our operatives tracked the movement of the suspects to Ibadan, Oyo State, where they attempted to dispose of the stolen Lexus RS 350 for N15m," the Commissioner of Police (CP) confirmed.

"The arrested suspect confessed to previously stealing vehicles for the same syndicate," he also said.

According to him, the operation led to the recovery of two Lexus vehicles, while a manhunt has begun for the remaining members of the gang who fled.

The CP also confirmed the arrest of other suspects linked to homicide, robbery and rape incidents across Ilorin and Offa, but maintained that the breakthrough in vehicle recovery remained a key highlight of the Command's recent operations.

He disclosed that 26-year-old Yusuf Ibrahim, a former hotel employee, had been arrested over the murder of a hotel staff member, 28-year-old Opeyemi Bello, whose body was found in her room on November 16.

"Investigations showed the suspect scaled the hotel fence at night with the intention to steal. When the deceased sighted him, he strangled her with a bedspread," CP Ojo stated, adding that the suspect had confessed and would be charged in court.

In another robbery case, he said two suspects, Ibrahim Abubakar and Dele Emmanuel, were arrested after a stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max was traced to them following a violent attack on a woman in the Basin area of Ilorin. A stolen Toyota Camry belonging to the victim was also recovered.

The CP further announced the arrest of four others, Umar Adamu, Aliyu Umar, Lukman Idris and Kazeem Ahmed, believed to have carried out coordinated robberies against students in Offa. Several smartphones and electronic devices were recovered.

"Journalists remain trusted partners in our collective security efforts," CP Ojo said, assuring residents that the command will intensify surveillance and sustain its ongoing offensive until "all criminal elements are completely dismantled," reaffirming its commitment to a safer Kwara.