Security agencies in Kwara State have intensified operations against armed groups, leading to the arrest of a suspected armourer believed to be repairing weapons for bandits operating across the state. Several individuals accused of supplying food, fuel and other essentials to the criminals’ forest camps were also taken into custody.
The development was announced on Friday, November 21, 2025, by Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo after a meeting of the State Security Council at the Government House in Ilorin. The council reviewed recent security incidents and assessed ongoing combined operations.
Ojo said the council commended new deployments across the state, following directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had recently dispatched four tactical units—the Special Weapons and Tactics Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Special Intervention Squad and Special Tactical Squad—to strengthen counter-insurgency efforts.
According to Ojo, security commanders briefed the council on progress made in the hunt for perpetrators of the Eruku church attack and in efforts to rescue abducted victims. He noted that recent airstrikes, especially in Ifelodun, had forced several kidnappers to abandon their bases, prompting the council to call for sustained aerial and ground pressure on identified hideouts.
The Commissioner confirmed that both the police and the Department of State Services successfully intercepted several individuals linked to the bandits’ supply network, including the Makurdi-based suspect who confessed to maintaining weapons for kidnapping gangs.
The council endorsed new security measures affecting vulnerable schools and urged residents to remain alert as authorities work toward the safe return of abducted schoolgirls. It also approved increased joint patrols ahead of the festive season.
Ojo added that the council expressed concern over the growing dangers of unregulated social media posts, particularly those that reveal ransom demands or sensitive operational details that could jeopardize rescue efforts.
Residents were advised to avoid late-night farming and to quickly report suspicious activities to security agencies, traditional rulers or local officials. The meeting ended with a minute of silence in honour of victims of the Eruku CAC attack and a message of condolence to their families.