In a bid to eradicate criminal elements, particularly kidnappers, from the state, a joint team consisting of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, O.P.C., and local hunters conducted a thorough bush combing operation on Tuesday night. The operation covered areas such as Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah, and the dense forest surrounding the Iju/Ikere boundary.
In the course of the operation, authorities apprehended five individuals suspected of kidnapping—namely, Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdullahi, and Suleiman Abdullahi.
Upon further questioning, the detainees asserted to be herdsmen; however, subsequent investigation revealed that none of them possessed any cattle, and no livestock was discovered with them in the forest where they were taken into custody.
A statement by DSP Abutu Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, said, “The following items were found with them in the forest: two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife/dagger and four phones.”