The Ekiti State Police Command has apprehended five individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping around the Iju Ikere boundary area.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, on Tuesday.
Terrorists believed to be herdsmen reportedly killed two traditional rulers in the state on Monday.
The incident was said to have happened between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti in Ajoni Local Government Area of the state.
The arrests were made during a joint operation involving the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, OPC, and local hunters.
The suspects, identified as Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleiman Abdullahi, were taken into custody after a thorough bush combing operation in the Oke-Osun area and the dense woodland along the Iju-Ikere boundary.
Despite initially claiming to be herdsmen, further investigation revealed that none of the suspects had cattle with them in the forest where they were apprehended.
The items found in their possession included two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jackknife/dagger, and four phones. The operation aimed to drive criminal elements, particularly kidnappers, out of the state in response to recent security challenges, including the killing of two traditional rulers in the area.
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.”