Kwara State Police Command has successfully foiled a planned kidnapping and extortion scheme, arresting two Togolese nationals, Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, in Baruten Local Government Area. The operation, carried out following a credible tip-off, disrupted a criminal plot that involved threatening calls demanding ₦22 million from a local resident. Police recovered a mobile phone used in the threats, which has been secured as evidence. The suspects confessed during interrogation, confirming their involvement in the conspiracy.
The arrest followed a report made to the Okuta Police Division by S. Ismaila, a resident of Okuta, who disclosed receiving repeated threatening calls from an unknown person. The caller demanded ₦22 million to prevent his abduction and threatened to kidnap and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the payment was not made. The report triggered an immediate response from police operatives, who activated intelligence-driven strategies to track down the suspects.
In collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and using technical surveillance, police swiftly located and arrested Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, both citizens of the Republic of Togo. Preliminary investigations confirmed their direct involvement in the criminal scheme. During questioning, both suspects admitted to orchestrating the threats and attempted extortion. The mobile phone used to make the threatening calls was recovered from one of the suspects and is now in police custody as a key exhibit.
State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, praised the professionalism and coordinated efforts of the officers involved. He emphasized that the swift action prevented a potential security breach and highlighted the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing. Adekimi assured the public that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the criminal network. He stressed that no criminal act will go unpunished in Kwara State.
The police command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities. They emphasized that public cooperation is vital in maintaining peace and security across the state. Timely and credible information, they said, remains a cornerstone of effective crime prevention. With this latest operation, the police have reinforced their resolve to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in Kwara. The incident underscores the importance of community-police collaboration in safeguarding lives and property.
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