The Èkiti State Police Command yesterday paraded a gang of kidnapping suspects believed to have carried out the recent kidnappings and killings in the state.
At a press briefing by the state command spokesman, DSP Abutu Sunday, in Ado-Ekiti, the Èkiti State capital, the. Police said “The recent breakthrough was made possible through the dogged effort of our gallant men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) ably led by their Commander, CSP. OGUNDOLA MARCUS.
“In our relentless and deliberate efforts to rid the State off criminal elements especially kidnappers and the quest to ensure the arrest of the hoodlums behind the killing of two traditional rulers in Ikole-Ekiti and the kidnapping of some school children and their teachers in Emure-Ekiti as well as other kidnapping incidents in the State, the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) commenced a thorough investigation and operation and arrested Eight (8) members of a kidnapping syndicate and neutralized one. Details below:
“On 8/02/2024 at about 1300hrs, the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) received a credible tip-off that a gang of armed men has invaded a farmland at Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti and were planning to kidnap some Expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti.
“Upon receipt of the information, a team of RRS operatives swung into action and arrested one ABUBAKAR ALIYU a.k.a SMALLIE who was on a mission to spy on the actual location of the Expatriates. After the arrest of Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE, the leader of the kidnapping gang identified as one Sumo Karami sent two (2) vigilante members, one Saliu Ibrahim and Umaru Saliu, to secure the bail of the arrested gang member from Police custody. The two (2) vigilante members were arrested and they led the RRS operatives to Oro-Ago town where one Mohammed Bashiru, the leader of Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State, was arrested. During interrogation, Mohammed Bashiru revealed that he is a relative of Sumo Karami who is a leader of a dreaded kidnapping gang and that Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE is one his gang members who have been terrorizing and kidnapping innocent citizens with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons. Initial investigation revealed that Sumo Karami and his gang members were responsible for the kidnapping of the Pupils and their Teachers in Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024.”
Meanwhile, the phone used to demand for ransom for the release of the pupils and teachers, according to the Police, was recovered from the suspects, adding that intensified efforts led to the arrest of two among the gang members, whose names were given as Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State.
Further investigation, Abutu said, led to the arrest of one Kenneth Ugwu in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 14th February this year, adding that the suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate who kidnapped five pupils, three teachers and a driver in Emure-Ekiti, who was allegedly killed by the kidnappers.
The Ekiti Command spokesman disclosed that the suspect led a team of RRS operatives to the kidnapper’s hideout inside Agric Reserved Forest between Ise-Ekiti/Emure-Ekiti, and on sighting the Police, the armed hoodlums engaged the team in a gun duel.
He, however, said in the process, one of the gang members who was later identified as AYUBA was neutralized, one Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a Smallie was captured alive, while other gang members escaped through the forest.
“Investigation revealed that the syndicate was responsible for the kidnapping of one Paul Omotosho, the APC Chairman, Ekiti State, along Agbado/Imesi, Ekiti road on 08/07/2023, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Awoniyi along Ikere/Itaogbolu road in the month of January this year and the kidnapping of teachers and pupils of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024.
“EXHIBITS RECOVERED:
i. One (1) AK 47 assorted rifle,
ii. One(1) pump action gun loaded with five (5) lives cartridges,
iii. Twenty-one (21) AK47 live ammunition
iv. Expended shells of AK-47 ammunition.
v. One (1) face-mask
vi. One (1) Nose mask
vii. Two (2) pairs of hand glove
viii. Twenty (20) different handsets
ix. One (1) National ID Card bearing Salisu Mohammed
x. Two (2) MTN sim card
xi. One (1) airtel sim card”, Abutu further disclosed.
Speaking on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu said: “I wish to reiterate that under my leadership, Ekiti State will be made hot and unbearable for all criminal elements as I have ordered a vigorous, constant and sustained bush combing operations as well as raiding of black spots across the State.
Citizens are, therefore, implored to support and cooperate with the Police by supplying timely and credible information that could lead to the arrest of criminal suspects in the State.”
