‎Police arrest two Togolese in foiled Kwara kidnap attempt ‎

‎Ilorin, Kwara State — The Kwara State Police Command has arrested two Togolese nationals for their alleged involvement in a planned kidnapping and extortion scheme in Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area of the state. The operation successfully prevented what authorities described as a serious security threat.
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‎According to the police, the case began when a resident, identified as S. Ismaila, reported receiving threatening phone calls from an unknown person demanding ₦22 million to prevent his abduction.
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‎The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap Ismaila and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the demand was not met.
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‎Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said officers immediately launched an intelligence-led operation in collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
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‎ The investigation led to the arrest of Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, both citizens of the Republic of Togo.
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‎Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the suspects to the alleged plot. Police said both individuals confessed to participating in the attempted kidnapping and extortion during interrogation. Officers also recovered a mobile phone allegedly used to make the threatening calls, which has been retained as evidence.
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‎Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, praised the officers involved for their swift and professional response, noting that their actions helped avert a potentially dangerous security incident. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network.
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‎The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, emphasizing that public cooperation is essential in maintaining peace and security across the state.
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