The Kwara State Police Command on Monday announced the release of 48 men earlier arrested along the Alade–Oreke axis around Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said in a statement that the men were freed after exhaustive profiling and digital forensic checks found no link to criminal activities.
“All forty-eight (48) individuals have been duly released this morning,” the spokesperson said.
The men had been intercepted on September 4 while travelling in clusters on 14 motorcycles. Operatives of the Command, working with vigilantes attached to the office of the National Security Adviser, acted on what was described as “credible intelligence” from the Divisional Police Officer in Oke-Ode.
According to the police, 43 mobile phones and other personal items were recovered from the suspects during the operation. Ejire-Adeyemi explained that the suspects were subjected to “detailed criminal intelligence analysis and profiling,” which included forensic extraction of call records, communication trails, transaction history, and geo-location mapping.
She clarified that the checks yielded no incriminating evidence or connection to kidnapping, banditry, or organised crime.
“The outcome underscores the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding our communities against criminal elements,” she said.
Ejire-Adeyemi stressed that the operation was conducted with full respect for human rights and investigative protocols, noting that intelligence was swiftly acted upon while ensuring innocent citizens were not unjustly criminalised.
She urged residents of the state to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative by promptly sharing credible information with security agencies.
