Police: Five suspected kidnappers arrested in Ekiti forest

The police command in Ekiti says five suspected kidnappers have been arrested during a raid of some forests in the state.

The police identified the suspects as Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleiman Abdulahi.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sunday Abutu, spokesperson of the Ekiti police command, said the suspects were arrested when security operatives “embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around the Iju/Ikere boundary”.

Abutu said the suspects claimed to be herdsmen but had no cattle when they were found in the forest.

The police spokesperson said two motorcycles, one cutlass, one dagger, and four phones were recovered from the suspects.

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.