The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended a medical doctor suspected of supplying pharmaceutical drugs from Sokoto State to kidnappers operating in parts of Kwara State.
Security sources say the arrest is a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities linked to armed gangs in the region.
According to intelligence gathered by the secret service, the doctor was intercepted in the Jebba area of Moro Local Government following credible reports connecting him to the provision of medical supplies to kidnappers recovering from gunshot wounds sustained in clashes with security forces.
Sources within the DSS, who spoke to journalists in Ilorin on Friday under the condition of anonymity, said the development has exposed a network providing medical care to criminal elements in the state.
One source stated, “This arrest has helped uncover those involved in treating armed criminals.
The doctor’s activities have been under surveillance, and his apprehension is a step toward dismantling this support network.”
Investigators confirmed that the doctor is currently in DSS custody and undergoing thorough interrogation to determine the extent of his involvement and the mechanisms through which he supplied drugs to the gang hideouts.
Officials indicated that the findings from the questioning could lead to formal prosecution.
A senior DSS operative, also speaking anonymously, confirmed, “He is in our custody and is cooperating with our investigation.
We are tracing the flow of drugs he supplied to kidnappers across parts of Kwara State for medical treatment.”
Security experts have advised that heightened vigilance is necessary in health facilities situated in remote and forested areas, warning that such locations could be targeted by criminal networks seeking medical assistance.
The DSS has assured the public that it will continue to track and prosecute individuals aiding criminal elements, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Kwara State.
