The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of alleged masterminds of cult clashes and 15 other individuals connected to various crimes across the state. Addressing the media in Ado-Ekiti, Commissioner of Police Ogundare Dare disclosed that the arrested suspects included kidnappers, robbers, rapists, and notorious cultists, among other criminals.
The suspects were apprehended by the Rapid Response Squad team of the command during a bush combing operation on April 6. Among those arrested were Augustine Agboobo, Olamilekan Adeniyi, Friday Williams Ukeuima, and Gabriel Ademoh, who were nabbed in a forest close to the Igede farm settlement.
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During interrogation, Dare revealed that the suspects confessed to being members of a kidnapping syndicate that had carried out several kidnapping operations in the state. They admitted to having kidnapped Adeleke Ajibade on June 6, 2022, at Igede farm and other victims, and collected ransom before releasing them.
The police commissioner further stated that the command had also arrested two suspected robbers and recovered two stolen motorcycles with the assistance of community members in Oke-Ureje, Ado-Ekiti on April 4, at around 10:00 PM.
In addition, the duo of Saliu Oyebamiji and Mayowa Ajisafe were arrested, and a notorious robber and rapist, Jimoh Gani, was apprehended on April 4. The suspects were accused of participating in the robbery and rape of a student from a higher institution located in Ikere-Ekiti.
Dare stated, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to have committed the crime alongside one Femi Ayobami and Alfa Kayode, all residents of Ado-Ekiti, who escaped during arrest.”
Various dangerous items, including a locally made single-barrel gun, a dane gun, and bags of suspected Indian hemp, were recovered from the suspects.
The police command urged residents of the state to be vigilant, security-conscious, and report any suspicious activities in their localities to the nearest police station.
