Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested a medical doctor for allegedly supplying drugs and medical equipment to suspected kidnapping gangs operating in Kwara State.
The arrest was confirmed on Friday by the Kwara State Government in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.
According to the statement, the suspect was intercepted in Jebba area of Moro Local Government Area while transporting medical supplies from Sokoto State to armed groups believed to be hiding in parts of the state.
“The Department of State Services has taken into custody a medical doctor who was ferrying drugs from Sokoto State to kidnappers operating in parts of Kwara State,” the statement said.
The government said the arrest followed intelligence reports linking the doctor to a syndicate responsible for supplying medical items to criminal gangs across the region.
It was gathered that the kidnappers were in dire need of medical supplies, especially for treating gunshot wounds sustained during encounters with security operatives.
Security sources told newsmen that the arrest was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle logistics and support networks sustaining kidnapping gangs in the North-Central zone.
One of the sources said criminal groups had intensified efforts to access medical treatment, prompting security agencies to increase surveillance on the movement of drugs and medical supplies.
Kano Times reports that Kwara State, once considered relatively peaceful, has in recent months witnessed a surge in security challenges, particularly in Kaiama, Baruten, Ekiti and parts of Moro Local Government Areas.
Border communities remain the most vulnerable due to their proximity to vast forest reserves believed to serve as hideouts for criminal gangs.
