The Police have killed one person and arrested suspected kidnappers of Ekiti pupils and teachers.
Ekiti Police Commissioner Akinwale Adeniran spoke on Friday while parading suspects.
According to a statement by Ekiti Police spokesman DSP Abutu Sunday, the breakthrough was made possible through the dogged effort of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) led by their Commander, CSP. Ogundola Marcus
He said: “On 8/02/2024 at about 1300hrs, the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) received a credible tip-off that a gang of armed men had invaded 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 one 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 of his gang members who have been terrorising 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.”
The police added that the phone used to demand ransom for the release of the pupils and the teachers was recovered from the suspects and effort led to the arrest of two gang members Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State.
