Security agencies in Kwara State have arrested a suspected gun repairer alleged to be servicing weapons for bandits, alongside several individuals accused of supplying food, drugs and fuel to the criminals.
The arrests follow Tuesday’s attack on church worshippers in the Eruku area of Ekiti Local Government, an incident that renewed concerns about rising insecurity in parts of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed the development on Friday during a briefing at the state command headquarters in Ilorin. The announcement came after the State Security Council meeting convened at the Government House.
Ojo said the suspect, who hails from Makurdi, Benue State, confessed to fixing firearms for bandits operating in Kwara. According to him, security operatives have also picked up several individuals believed to be supplying daily necessities to criminal hideouts.
He noted that the Security Council reviewed recent intelligence, particularly concerning the Eruku attack, and assessed the progress being made in locating the perpetrators and rescuing abducted victims.
The CP said the council expressed worry over the harmful influence of social media on security operations, especially when sensitive information is circulated without verification.
Despite these concerns, he commended the military, police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for recent deployments ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also praised Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for deploying four tactical units — the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and Special Tactical Squads (STS). The units were sent to neutralise further threats and stabilise troubled areas.
Ojo said air interdictions have already dislodged kidnappers from known hideouts, particularly in the Ifelodun axis, prompting the council to call for continued aerial bombardments of identified criminal enclaves.
He said:
“The Police and DSS reported several arrests of food and fuel suppliers linked to the criminals, as well as a man from Makurdi who confessed to fixing weapons for the kidnappers.”
The council also reviewed the state government’s recent decision regarding security around schools and commended what it described as a “strategic intervention.”
As the search for abducted victims continues, Ojo said the council has urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activity.
He added that the council approved joint patrols by security forces across the state ahead of the festive season, noting that vulnerable areas would receive heightened protection.
The meeting also expressed concern over the increasing spread of sensitive security information on social media, warning that such posts could endanger citizens and undermine rescue efforts.
Residents were advised to avoid night farming and late-night social activities, particularly in high-risk rural communities.
The session ended with a minute of silence for victims of the Eruku CAC attack and a renewed commitment to improve security coordination across Kwara and neighbouring states.