The police have reported the killing of one individual and the arrest of suspected kidnappers involved in the abduction of Ekiti pupils and teachers.
Ekiti Police Commissioner Akinwale Adeniran provided details on Friday while parading the apprehended suspects.
According to a statement from Ekiti Police spokesperson DSP Abutu Sunday, the success was attributed to the dedicated efforts of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by Commander CSP Ogundola Marcus.
The breakthrough occurred on 8/02/2024 when RRS received credible information about an armed gang planning to kidnap expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti.
A team of RRS operatives swiftly acted on the tip-off, arresting ABUBAKAR ALIYU, also known as SMALLIE, who was spying on the expatriates’ intended location. Subsequently, vigilante members Saliu Ibrahim and Umaru Saliu, sent by gang leader Sumo Karami, were apprehended.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Mohammed Bashiru, leader of the Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State.
Bashiru revealed his familial ties to Sumo Karami and provided information about the gang’s involvement in the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Emure-Ekiti on January 29, 2024.
The police successfully recovered the phone used for ransom demands, leading to the arrest of Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State.
Kenneth Ugwu was apprehended in Ibadan, Oyo State, confessing to being part of a syndicate responsible for the Emure-Ekiti kidnappings.
During a confrontation in Agric Reserved Forest, AYUBA, a gang member, was neutralized, and Abubakar Mohammed, aka Smallie, was captured alive.
The syndicate was linked to various kidnappings, including that of Paul Omotosho, APC Chairman, Ekiti State.
Items recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 assorted rifle, one pump-action gun loaded with five life cartridges, twenty-one AK47 live ammunition, expended shells, face masks, hand gloves, twenty different handsets, one National ID Card, two MTN SIM cards, and one Airtel SIM card.
