Police in Kwara have arrested two Togolese nationals in connection with an alleged kidnap and extortion plot.
The suspects, identified as Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, also reportedly threatened to abduct a resident and kill his younger brother unless a ransom was paid.
The two Togolese were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation that also led to the recovery of the mobile phone allegedly used to issue the threats.
Kwara State police command described the arrest as another major breakthrough in its ongoing intelligence driven operations against criminal activities in the state.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, said the operation followed a complaint lodged at the Okuta Police Division by one S. Ismaila, a resident.
Ismaila said he reportedly received several anonymous telephone calls demanding ₦22 million to prevent his planned abduction.
The police said the suspects allegedly threatened to kidnap the complainant and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the demand was not met.
The PPRO said, “Operatives immediately launched an intelligence driven investigation in collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team and, with technical support, tracked and arrested the suspects who are both citizens of the Republic of Togo.
“Preliminary investigation linked the two suspects to the alleged criminal conspiracy. Both suspects confessed to their involvement during interrogation, while a mobile phone allegedly used in making the threatening calls was recovered and taken into police custody as an exhibit.”
She said the commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, observed that the timely intervention prevented what could have escalated into a serious security incident.
She added, “He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence led policing and vowed to sustain efforts to track down other members of the alleged criminal network.
“The commissioner assured residents that investigations had been intensified to identify and arrest other accomplices, stressing that all those connected with the plot would be brought to justice.”
The police spokesperson urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, noting that public cooperation remains vital to maintaining peace and security across Kwara State.
