Security forces have apprehended a group of individuals suspected to be kidnappers on the evening of Tuesday, February 10, at Olayinka, situated along the Ajasepo–Igbaja–Oke‑Ode highway in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Authorities said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to disrupt kidnapping networks operating in forested corridors linking rural communities.
Preliminary information from security sources indicates that “scores” of suspects were taken into custody during the operation, though official figures have not yet been publicly released by the police or military spokespersons involved.
The highway where the arrests occurred has been a known flashpoint for abductions and criminal gang activity, prompting heightened patrols by joint security teams.
Officials have not disclosed the identities of those detained or whether any weapons or ransom proceeds were recovered at the scene.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of broader insecurity in Kwara State, where political actors and analysts say that kidnapping and banditry have inflicted significant human tolls over recent months.
A recent assessment by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara stated that between January and November 2025, an estimated 377 people were abducted statewide, with 507 persons killed by suspected bandits in the same period.
Ifelodun was identified among the most‑affected local government areas.
Security agencies have pledged to sustain pressure on criminal groups across the region, urging community cooperation and timely reporting of suspicious movements.