…,.in Kwara
Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Department of State Service has taken into custody a medical doctor who was ferrying drugs from Sokoto to kidnappers in parts of Kwara State.
The doctor was intercepted in the Jebba area following intelligence reports about the activities of the kidnappers and their couriers.
The secret service says the criminal gangs appear desperate for medical care following gunshot wounds sustained in encounters with security forces.
“So, we are advising improved security measures in health facilities in thickly forested areas, which the kidnappers may target,” according to a security official.
Security insiders told reporters that the suspect was intercepted around Jebba in Moro Local Government Area after intelligence revealed that some kidnapping gangs had become increasingly reliant on discreet medical assistance, especially after suffering gunshot wounds in recent clashes with security forces.
“The gangs are getting desperate. Several of them have been hit during recent operations, and they are now seeking medical help anywhere they can find it. That is how this doctor entered the picture,” the source said.
The arrest comes on the heels of intensified military operations against criminal elements infiltrating Kwara from neighbouring states, where troops have reportedly mounted sustained pressure on bandit hideouts.
Authorities are urging health workers and facilities located near forest belts to remain vigilant.
“We advise improved security measures in health facilities sited close to isolated or thickly forested areas because kidnappers may attempt to access them for treatment,” another official warned.
Security agencies maintain that the crackdown will continue until the networks aiding kidnappers in the state are fully dismantled.
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