The Nigerian Police Ekiti State Command with the support of other security agencies has arrested five suspected kidnappers around the Iju Ondo State, Ikere Ekiti State boundary area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, a combined team of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, and local hunters began a bush combing operation in the Oke-Osun area of the state and to the dense woodland along the Iju-Ikere boundary to drive out criminal elements, mainly kidnappers, from the state.
The statement partly read, “In a bid to flush out criminal elements, especially kidnappers out of the state, a combined team of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, OPC and local hunters today embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary.
“During the operation, five suspected kidnappers, namely- Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleiman Abdullahi, were arrested.
“During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be herdsmen, but it was later discovered that none of them had cattle, and no cattle were found with them in the forest where they were arrested.
“The following items were found with them in the forest; two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife/ dagger, and four phones.”
On Monday, gunmen kidnapped six pupils of Apostolic Faith School, three teachers, and a driver while the school bus was heading to Eporo-Ekiti from Emure.
The abduction of the pupils and their teachers occurred a few hours after two traditional rulers were murdered by suspected kidnappers in the state.
The monarchs were said to be returning from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti when they were ambushed and gunned down.
The traditional rulers were identified as Oba David Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti; and Oba Olatunde Olusola, the Onimojo of Omojola-Ekiti.