The Kwara State Police Command has arrested two nationals of the Republic of Togo over an alleged plot to kidnap a Nigerian and extort N22 million from him.
The suspects, identified as Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, were apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after allegedly threatening a resident of Okuta in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to the police, the suspects repeatedly threatened one S. Ismaila, demanding the payment of N22 million or risk being kidnapped. They also allegedly threatened to kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the demand was not met.
The victim subsequently reported the threats to the Okuta Police Division, prompting an immediate response from the command.
Confirming the arrests in a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Ejire Adeyemi, said the report triggered intelligence-driven operations that led to the suspects’ capture.
According to the statement, “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately activated intelligence-driven operational strategies.
“In collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and leveraging technical support, operatives swiftly tracked and arrested two suspects identified as Yakubu Ismaila (M) and Hadiza Kosia (F), both nationals of the Republic of Togo.”
The police disclosed that preliminary findings linked the two suspects directly to the alleged criminal conspiracy.
The statement added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were directly linked to the criminal conspiracy.
“During interrogation, both suspects confessed to their involvement in the attempted kidnapping and extortion plot. A mobile phone used to issue the threatening calls was recovered from one of the suspects and has been taken into police custody as a critical exhibit.”
The recovered mobile phone is expected to play a key role in the ongoing investigation as detectives continue efforts to unravel the full extent of the alleged criminal operation.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, praised the officers involved in the operation for their swift and coordinated response, noting that their efforts prevented what could have resulted in a major security incident.
According to the statement, “The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Ojo Adekimi, commended the professionalism, prompt response, and coordinated efforts of the operatives whose swift action prevented what could have resulted in a serious security breach.”
The police chief reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and assured residents that law enforcement agencies would continue pursuing criminal elements operating within or attempting to infiltrate the state.
He also stated that investigations had been intensified to identify and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network who may still be at large.
The command assured that anyone connected with the alleged plot would be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Residents were encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies to support efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across the state.
The police stressed that public cooperation remains critical in combating kidnapping, extortion and other violent crimes.
