The Ekiti State Police Command has announced a series of significant operational breakthroughs, showcasing its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state.
Briefing the newsmen in his office on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo explained that the Command, in the past few weeks, has received numerous complaints about car snatching and vehicles removed from where they were parked.
“Without delay, I summoned the Heads of intelligence Department and Tactical Units as well as the Area Commanders and the DPOs, gave them a matching order to ensure the arrest of the suspects behind this menace, the recovery of the stolen vehicles and other valuables, and consequently bring their nefarious activities to an end in the State.
“This order paid off as the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), through a thorough investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Uzobo Friday Agomatiro, a member of a Four-man gang who at gun point, intercepted a Toyota Corolla car driven by the owner along Ekute Street on 10/01/2026. The hoodlums snatched the car and drove it away to an unknown location’, said the Commissioner.
Uzobo Friday Agomatiro, during investigation, confessed to the commission of the crime, mentioned the names of his fleeing gang members as well as other criminal activities they have perpetrated across the State, while three fabricated master Keys were found in his possession on the spot.
Further search was conducted in his house and premises and seven additional fabricated master keys, five Wakatek Solar Light Panels and three different vehicle plate numbers were recovered.
Further effort intensified by the Operatives of the RRS led to the arrest two other gang members one Lawal Kudirat and Agomatiro Dennis, along with the recovery of two stolen vehicles from them.
The Suspects led RRS Operatives to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Parking Space, where one of the stolen Toyota Corolla Car was recovered. The operatives equally arrested one Gbenga Adeola and Adebayo Deji at Ilumoba- Ekiti who confessed that they have so far fabricated twenty nine (29) master keys for the gang, which they have been using to steal vehicles.
Further investigation led Operatives to Emure-Ekiti where they recovered another stolen Toyota Corolla Car from Ado-Ekiti.
Effort is ongoing for the arrest of other fleeing members of the gang as well as the conspirators, and the recovery of other stolen vehicles and valuables.
Speaking further, on 21/01/2026, based on a credible, tip-off, the Command Operations, arrested, one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious Cattle Rustler/kidnapper.
Investigation revealed that brahim Abubakar has over the years, rustled numerous Cattle in Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi States, and has been on the wanted list of the three States.
During investigation, Ibrahim Abubakar confessed that he is into cattle rustling business,and equally mentioned different occasions in the past where he attacked Cattle owners and made away with their cattle.
A large number of rustled cattle numbering two hundred and fifty-five(255) were recovered from him. He will be further investigated and charged to court.
Also, on 19/01/2026 at about 13:00hrs, the Safer Highway Operatives, while on their routine patrol along Iworoko/Ado road, intercepted an ash colour Honda Element Jeep driven by the Suspect, one Ogekore Tiresimi Tosin.
During Interrogation, the Suspect confessed to have burgled several shops in Erijiyan, ilawe, Aramoko, Ilumoba, Ikole and Oye-Ekiti, where he has carted away numerous items.
The Suspect led Police Operatives to one of his caiminal hideouts in Egbe, Kogi state, where large quantities of new Clothes, soft drinks, food stuffs and other provisions were recovered
He equally led the Command operatives to another hideout located in Ilorin, Kwara state, where one unregistered OPEL Vectra car and a Nissan Bus he snatched from their owners were recovered.
Some of the victims whose shops were burgled have come to identify their items. The suspect will be charged to court after the completion of investigation. Eribo added.
Similarly, on the 21/01/2026 at about 16:30hrs, Isan Police Divisional Headquarters received a credible tip-off that some hoodlums, suspected to be kidnappers were found in the forest.
Operatives from the division swung into action and arrested sixteen (16) suspected cattle rustler, namely, Dauda Abdulrahman, Sanusi Abdullahi, Abdulmumini Abdullahi, Ibrahim Adamu, Aladu, Umaru Bala, Idris Abdullahi, Umaru Dairu, Adamu Abubakar, Salisu Abdullahi, Idris Abdullahi, Yahuza Abdulrahman, Abdullahi Salisu, Samaila Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abdullahi and Sanni Muhammadu.
At the point of arrest, three hundred and three (303) cattle suspected to have been rustled were found in their possession. The suspects were unable to give satisfactory account of the cattle.
Meanwhile, investigation revealed that one Ibrahim Abubakar, a wanted notorious cattle rustler that was arrested that same day is their gang leader.
In another development, on the 24/01/2026 at about 08:30hrs, the Command received a credible tip-off that one Oluwadare Onyechi, a 43-year old woman, runs an illegal Baby Factory alongside four other suspects somewhere behind Inisa Hotel and Suit, along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.
Upon the receipt of the information, the Command Operatives swung into action, cordon off the premises used for the illegal business, and arrested Oluwadare Onyechi and four other accomplices namely, Onuoha Gloria ‘28 yrs’, Victoria Linus ‘25 yrs’, Ihegbogu Mercy ‘21 yrs’ and a heavily pregnant Emmanuel Esther ’23yrs’.
Search was conducted in the premises and six children within the age of 2 and 9 reasonably suspected to be under bondage and exploitation were rescued. Items such as baby delivery materials, some rolls of dexamethasone tablet, and some bottles of Goya oil were recovers from the scene.
Effort is underway for the possible arrest of other accomplices.
On 22/01/2026 at about 21:00hrs, a Staff of Mobile Telephone Network(MTN) reported at Ado Central Divisional Police Headquarters that an unknown thief or thieves came to their Office at Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti, and stole twelve MTN SIM CARD Registration Devices valued thirteen million naira.
Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from the Division swung into action and arrested one Ayomide Pelumi who was in possession of four of the twelve stolen devices.
Further investigation led to the arrest of one Saliu Ayomide on 24/01/2026, who confessed to have sold the remaining eight stolen devices to one Musa Garuba and Isah Saheed. The two receivers were subsequently arrested.
The suspects confessed to the commission of the crime, while eight of the devices were recovered from them with two already damaged.
Additionally, the Command so far this year, has embarked on aggressive, intelligence-led and joint bush combing operations, stop and search, visibility patrol and raiding of criminal hideouts.
“These operations, undoubtedly, have yielded a lot of positive results, as the Command has been able to prevent and detect crimes before they occur, as well as the arrest of some criminal suspects. The Commissioner stated”.
On 26/01/2026, a Toyota Camry car reasonably suspected to have been stolen was intercepted and recovered by Operatives of the Safer Highway Unit during their routine stop and search duty.
During interrogation, the driver could not provide any proof that the car belongs to him. He is currently under investigation.
All the suspects arrested will be charged to court immediately after investigations are concluded. The CP promised.
