Security forces in Kwara State have launched a sweeping joint operation that led to the arrest of over 25 suspected criminals, including a notorious bandit named Tambaya. The operation, which began within the last 24 hours, was carried out by combined forces of the Police, Army, Forest Guards, and local hunters, with full support from the Kwara State Government.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Mallam Rafiu Ajakaiye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the crackdown targeted violent criminal elements responsible for recent attacks and kidnappings in Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas.
Tambaya, identified as the mastermind behind a deadly ambush on security forces and vigilantes in Gada, Lafiagi, was arrested alongside eight other gang members. Several others were neutralized during the operation. Two kidnap victims were rescued, and N11 million in cash—believed to be proceeds of criminal activities—was recovered.
Ajakaiye confirmed that the operation was initiated by the state government in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and local vigilante groups. He disclosed that in Ifelodun alone, more than 20 suspects were apprehended, including alleged arms traffickers and logistics suppliers.
Nearly 400 specially trained operatives have been deployed to reinforce security in hotspot areas, with operations already underway across Ifelodun, Ekiti, Edu, Patigi, and other border zones. Ten of the arrested suspects, caught with weapons and supplies, are being transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
Several captives have also been freed without conditions as mounting pressure forces criminal gangs to abandon their hideouts. The ongoing operation includes coordination with security personnel in neighbouring Kogi and Niger States to block escape routes and monitor border communities.
The statement emphasized that this is only the beginning of the state’s renewed effort to wipe out armed groups hiding in the forests. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities as the government intensifies efforts to secure lives and property across the state.
