By Babatunde Michael.
Ekiti State Police Command has again clamped down on suspects in connection with different offences in it’s efforts toward detection, prevention and control crimes and other vices.
Parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Sunday Abutu said on 07/09/2022 at about 08:00hrs, the Command received a complaint from one Omoniyi Taiwo of Kajola street, Ikere-Ekiti that on 03/09/2022, at about 04:00hrs, one Ameh Sunday who was working in his site at Ikere-Ekiti, was kidnapped by some hoodlums at gun point in his site. He further narrated that the kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of five million naira (#5,000,000:00).
The Police Spokesperson said, upon the receipt of the information, a team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) swung into action and arrested the purported victim in his hideout at Ikere-Ekiti on 16/09/2022 and that the arrested suspect confessed that himself, one Sunday Abah, Adejoh Friday and Simeon Ojodomo conspired and staged his kidnapping. Concerted efforts of the operatives led to the arrest of the three suspects mentioned above as explained by the PPRO, adding that they all confessed to the commission of the crime.
In a related development, on 16/09/2022 at about 1630hrs, upon a credible intelligence, the Command operatives also arrested one *USMAN MOHAMMED* ’27yrs’ for being involved in different kidnapping operations in the State. During interrogation, the suspect was said to have confessed that himself and other gang members who are currently at large, on 22/04/2022, kidnapped one Omoboade Adesina in her farm settlement located along Ago Aduloju/Aso Ayegunle road, Ado-Ekiti.
In another development, on 09/09/2022 at about 12:00hrs, a group of hoodlums suspected to be cultists were on rampage, terrorising and dispossessing students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, of their valuables. Upon the receipt of the information, the Command operatives in synergy with the Security Unit of the university swung into action, mobilized to the scene and arrested one MOHAMMED EJIMA while other gang members escaped. During interrogation, the suspect was also said to have confessed to the commission of the crime and further stated that himself and the other suspect who fled the scene and are currently at large are members of Eiye confraternity secret cult.
Recounting further, on 7/09/2022 at about 11:30hrs, the operatives of the Command swooped on llupeju Avenue Area of Ado-ekiti where hoodlums suspected to be cultists were on rampage. It was discovered that One Babatunde Bunmi was shot by the hoodlums and sustained severe gunshot injuries on his back On sighting the Police operatives, the hoodlum fled the scene while the victim was rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Investigation led to the arrest of one OKE TIMILEYIN, who confessed that he is a member of Black Axe Aiye secret cult alongside the other fleeing suspects.
On 08/09/2022 at about 09:40hrs, the Command operatives, acting on a tip-off , apprehended One *ADEBISI EMMANUEL, FABUNMI OKIKIOLA, AZEEZ DADA JIDE, ORO-OKOWO IDOWU and OGUNTOLA TEMILOPE* for breaking into several shops in Ọtun Ekiti and carted away valuables including provisions, clothes, Iron rods and food stuffs. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and led the Police team to the place where they kept some of the yet to be sold stolen items and the items were recovered.
Also, on 14/08/2022 at about 23:00hrs, a group of hoodlums burgled the residential apartment of one Ayodeji Ajayi located along Rainbow Road, Ara-Ekiti and carted away one Elamax Generator valued one hundred and twenty thousand naira (#120,000:00) and one solar fan valued eighty thousand (#80,000:00). Credible source revealed that one *ADEDEJI AWE* was sighted as one of the hoodlums during the operation. Upon the receipt of the information, the Command commenced investigation and it was discovered that the alleged suspect had earlier been involved in similar crime, arrested, arraigned and remanded in Federal Correctional Custody, Ado-Ekiti. A reproduction warrant was however, issued by the Chief Magistrate Court, Ado-Ekiti, after which the suspect was reproduced from the correctional custody and handed over to the Command for further investigation and subsequent arraignment.
Similarly, on 16/09/2022 at about 04:30hrs, the Command’s operatives, while on stop and search along IgbaraOdo – Akure Road, intercepted one motorcycle ridden by one *AKINDELE OPEYEMI OLUFEMI* and was found with a school bag loaded with different denominations of naira notes. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he travelled all the way from Iropara-Ekiti to Christ Apostolic Church Camp ground, Ikeji, Arakeji, Osun State to steal the cash sum of Six Hundred and twenty thousand, one hundred and fifteen naira (#620,115) from the offering vault of the Church. The suspect further revealed that he was employed as a security guard of the Church sometime ago before he voluntarily resigned.
On 06/08/2022 at about 13:30hrs, a boutique belonging to one Ikechekwu Nkenji and Tiwatayo Durowawo located at OKE-ILA Area of Ado-Ekiti was burgled wherein large quantity of wears valued Four million naira were carted away. Police investigation led to the arrest of one Katzing Gideon, Babale Timothy a.k.a K-boy, Macom Andrew, Ariso Soknan, Sunday Katdul, Moses Kurnap, John Nanfa a.k.a Badoo and Sunday Babale. The arrested suspects confessed to be responsible for the breaking of the boutique and the stealing of some valuables. Some of the items stolen were recovered including the two big generators that were stolen from two houses they burgled along new Iyin road, Ado-Ekiti.
Again, on 05/09/2022 at about 17:00hrs, two complainants reported that their cattle numbering thirty nine (39) were rustled along Irele/Egbe bush in Ekiti by a gang of armed men. Investigation led to the arrest of one Hameed Suleiman from whom thirteen among the stolen cattle were recovered. He claimed that he bought the cattle from one Isia Ibrahim. Effort intensified by the Command’s operatives led to the arrest of Isia Ibrahim who confessed to the commission of the crime alongside others who are currently at large.
Abutu noted that effort is on top gear for possible arrest of the other fleeing members involved in each of the crimes and that all the suspects arrested will be arraigned accordingly. The Command therefore enjoins all Ekiti State citizens to be security conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest Police Station or call 08062335577.