By Morenike Oluwatoyin
Following the continued determination of Ekiti State Police in the fight against crime and criminality, the State Police Command, under the leadership of CP, Dare Ogundare, has clamped down on suspects in connection with different reprehensive crimes
Parading the suspects in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, the Commissioner of Police stated that, on 28/04/2023 at about 10:30hrs, the Command, in conjunction with Kogi State Police Command, arrested one Abu Hassan AKA DANGER and Abubakar Sodiq who are notorious kidnappers and have been terrorising innocent citizens around Iyemero/Oke-Ako/Irele/Ipao-Ekiti Axis.
The suspects according to Ogundare were identifed by One Saka Orelope to be among the kidnappers that kidnapped him at ATU farm settlement Iyemero-Ekiti. One Bayo Aribisala, also identified the suspects to be among the hoodlums that intercepted his vehicle on 26/12/2022 at about 14:00hrs along Oke-Ako and shot his two legs but he managed to escape from the scene. Just as one Ayebulu Oyewole who was kidnapped on 03/09/2022 equally identified the suspects to be among the kidnappers that kidnapped him alongside his two brothers and shot dead his elder brother, one late Ayebulu Joseph, a Civil Defense Officer, at the scene.
Speaking further, “It was revealed that the suspects were also involved in the kidnapping of one Afolayan Samson and Adewole Ige at Igede farm settlement in Iyemero-Ekiti on 15/04/2023 and later released on 17/04/2023 after a ransom was paid.
“One locally made single barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from the suspects”. He said effort is ongoing for the possible arrest of other fleeing suspects.
In another development, the Police boss in Ekiti explained that, on 09/05/2023, through credible information, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arrested one Quadri Ajibola AKA OMOOLOPE who is a notorious member of black Axe ‘Aiye’ secret cult that were planning to unleash terror on their rival members in Ado-Ekiti and environs.
The CP said investigation revealed that the faction of the black Axe had created a group called HIT who were supposed to commence their killing operation on 10/05/2023.
“Further investigation showed that the group was responsible for the killing of 8 suspected members of black Axe ‘Aiye’ and the Supreme Eiye Confraternities in Ikere on 18/04/2021. The arrested suspects confessed to be members of the Black Axe ‘Aiye’ secret cult and the alleged plan.
“A search was conducted in the house and premises of the suspect and one local drum with inscription of OLOSUTNA belonging to the group was recovered
Also, on 10/05/2023, the Command’s operatives arrested one Agboola Kayode A.K.A KAY, Olumodi Tunde A.K.A KEBE and Saliu Kazeem A.K.A BABA RUKA for attacking one Mayowa Olaofe at her residence in Ijadu Community, Ado Ekiti on 09/05/2023 at about 20:00hrs and robbed her at gun point of one Infinix Hot 20 phone value #75,000 and cash sum of #10,000.
According to Ogundare, a search was conducted in the hideout of the suspect and one blue beret with insignia of Odan Nest which belongs to Eiye secret cult was recovered.
He said, investigation revealed that the arrested suspects are members of Supreme Eiye Confraternity.
On 07/05/2023 at about 11:45hrs, the Command’s Operatives, while on stop and search along Aramoko-Efon highway, were said to have intercepted a Toyota Bus occupied by the three suspects namely: Ismaila Rafiu, Komolafe Shola and Aladegoke Busuyi.
Upon searching the boot of the bus, different electric cables were found.
During interrogation, the Commissioner said the suspects confessed to have vandalized the transformer connecting Isinbode-Ekiti and carted away the cables that were found with them.
The arrested suspects mentioned other suspects who are currently on the run and effort is currently ongoing to arrest them. Said the CP.
The Command Operatives also arrested one Umar Hassan and Yusuf Lawal for allegedly storming Ayenco area, Eda-Ile-Ekiti and kidnapped one Ajayi Mary Olajumoke. The victim was released after a ransom was allegedly paid.
“Upon the arrest of the suspects, two cutlasses and a cash sum of #82,200 were recovered from them.
During interrogation, he said the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and claimed that the #82,200 recovered from them was part of the ransom collected.
Continuing, on 08/05/2023 at about 08:00hrs, one Adebayo Oladele A.K.A YOJE, one Oluwaseun Aanuoluwapo A.K.A OGO, one Adeleye Tope A.K.A OMO MUMMY and one Adeniyi Ojo A.K.A AWEJE attacked some members of NURTW with dangerous weapons such as gun, clubs and bottles at thier motor park in Igede-Ekiti, and disposed the secretary of the union’s ticket booklet and also robbed him of his money.
CP Ogundare noted that, investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were part of the gang that burgled the shop of One Joseph Chinedu and carted away some valuables on 13/12/2022 at about 21:00hrs.
It was also revealed that the suspects, on 15/12/2022 at about 22:30hrs, attacked and robbed one Jimoh Ismail of his valuables. Ogundare explained.
“On 24/04/2023 at about 1900hrs, the arrested suspects alongside others who are currently at large, attacked and robbed one Adesokan Adedeji Israel of his valuables along Igede/Aramoko Ekiti road. The arrested suspects were also part of the hoodlums that attacked and robbed One Dr Dada Ojo in Maxwell Hospital, Ado-Ekiti on 29/03/2022 at about 23:00hrs and snatched his Toyota Corolla car.
“It was further revealed that the arrested suspects had, in the past, raped two girls in broad daylight in Igede-Ekiti. Two of the suspects confessed that Adeniyi Ojo A.K.A Aweje was the one who supplied the gang arms and ammunition for thier criminal activities.
“The suspects confessed to the allegations levied against them”.
Going further, the number one Police in Ekiti said on 16/05/2023 at about 18:00hrs, the Command Operatives, while on stop and search along Ado/Iworoko road, intercepted an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle riden by one Temitope Oluwale and Fasiku Johnson.
He said upon searching the sack bag in their possession, numerous electric cables suspected to have been carted away from a vandalized transformer were found.
“During interrogation, the two suspects could not give satisfactory account of the cables but only narrated that they took them from somewhere in Kogi state and were heading to Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti to sell them.
The Police Commissioner promised that all the arrested suspects would be arraigned accordingly.
