By Samuel Sunday
Following the unwavering determination to ensure the safety of lives and property of the good people of Ekiti State, the State Police Command has again clamped down on notorious suspected criminals in connection with different heinous crimes ranging from rape/defilement, armed robbery to kidnapping.
While parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State, DSP Abutu Sunday stated that, on 29/10/2023 at 20:50hrs, a gang of armed hoodlums numbering about five forcefully stormed, shot sporadically into the air and attacked the resident of one Kehinde Kazeem located at Oke- Aku, Itapaji Ekiti, in an attempt to kidnap him.
The armed hoodlums were also said to invade his shop and one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) cash with other valuables were carted laway while attempt made by the hoodlums to kidnap him proved abortive.
Abutu explained that effort made by the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) led to the arrest of two suspects, namely: Usman Suleiman and Mohammed Sumonu.
The suspects, during interrogation, confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned other gang members who are currently on the run, said the PPRO.
In another development, on 04/11/2023, the Command Operatives, while acting on a credible information and with a view to flush out criminal elements hiding inside Ikere/Ijare forest, discovered a cultivation of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
According to Ekiti State spokesman, during search of the farm, one Alfred Macaulay, Promise Odogwu and Chukwuemeka Bright were arrested while other members of the gang took to flight.
Meanwhile, forty bags containing weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects at the scene.
In a related development, Abutu said, on 4/11/2023 at about 19:00HRS, a distress call was received that a gang of suspected cultists were having there meeting and initiation inside a building in Oye Ekiti.
Recounting, upon the receipt of the information, the Command Rapid Response Squad Operatives carried out a raid operation where one IGBAYILOLA SEUN, ESAN EMMANUEL and IDOWU ADEBAYO were arrested.
Investigation revealed that the suspects are illicit drugs peddlers.
During a search conducted in their houses and premises, large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs were recovered from them.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to be traders of illicit drugs and gave the identities of other suspects who are currently at large. Abutu explained.
Also, the Juvenile Women Centre (JWC) Unit of the State CID on 02/11/2023 arrested one OLOMOLAYE SESAN and his wife, one OLOMOLAYE KEHINDE for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 17year old girl and causing her grievous bodily harm respectively.
Investigation revealed that the victim is a younger sister to Olomolaye Kehinde who stays with and hawks for her.
It was revealed that on this fateful day, the victim was sent to hawk as usual and decided to spend a sum of Hundred naira (#100) on food since she was hungry. This act agrieved her elder sister who then decided to punish her by using a very hot Electric Iron on her causing her serious harm.
The victim further alleged that the sister’s husband, OLOMOLAYE SESAN, has forcefully had sexual intercourse with her on several occasions since June this year.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and will be arraigned accordingly.
Similarly, one Salihu Rasaq was arrested by the Gender Desk Unit of the Command for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of two 17-year old girls in Agbado Ekiti.
It was revealed that the victims, in their quest for spiritual favour, visited the suspect in his home who claimed to be an ALFA that has certain spiritual power.
The suspect gave them certain soaps and claimed that the victims were going to be receiving favour after bathing with the soaps.
Meanwhile, the suspect forcefully had carnal knowledge of them at different times as part of the conditions for the soap to work effectively.
The suspect was subsequently arrested after a complaint was made by a relative of one of the victims.
The PPRO added that, on 08/11/2023 at about 1200HRS, the Command arrested one OMONIYI AJAYI at Oke-ila Area of Ado-Ekiti for Burgling into two dwelling houses belonging to two different owners along Ilawe road, Ado Ekiti, and carting away some of there belongings.
Investigation revealed that the suspect burgled the two houses on 06/11/2023 at about 1900HRS alongside his gang members and stole items such as one generator, three seater chair, food stuffs, 12Kg gas cylinder, rug, two side bed stools, clothes and a cash sum of #25,000.
Upon his arrest, some of the stolen items were recovered from him.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect was released from prison custody about two months ago after committing similar offence, arrested, arraigned and sentenced to an imprisonment term.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and claimed to have sold some of the stolen items.
Effort is on top gear for the possible arrest of some of his gang members.
All the suspects arrested will be arraigned accordingly.
