The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and cattle rustlers. This happened after foiling an alleged Ekiti kidnap plot in Ayede Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state.
According to The Punch, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.
Abutu said police operatives arrested the suspects during an intelligence-led operation on Saturday. They allegedly attempted to sell stolen cows to raise money for a planned kidnapping.
He identified the suspects as 23-year-old Mumini Muhammed and 22-year-old Kehinde Oseni.
“The Ekiti State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping operation and arrested two suspected kidnappers and cattle rustlers following a credible intelligence-led operation,” Abutu said.
The police spokesperson said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit worked with officers from the Ayede Ekiti Divisional Police Headquarters. In addition, local vigilantes assisted to arrest the suspects.
He said the security team arrested them in a forest along the Are–Afao Road and Ayede Ekiti axis. This occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were planning to kidnap a resident of Ayede Ekiti before their arrest,” Abutu stated.
He added that officers intercepted the suspects while they attempted to sell two stolen cows for ₦1.5m. Police alleged that the suspects planned to use the proceeds to finance the kidnapping operation.
Abutu said the suspects confessed during investigation and gave police useful information.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and made other useful confessional statements,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that the owner of the stolen cows had been identified and had recovered the animals.
He said police operatives had intensified efforts to arrest other members of the gang. They also aim to recover firearms and other weapons allegedly in their possession.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and recover the firearms and other weapons in their possession. They will be charged in court immediately after the investigation is concluded,” Abutu added.
The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes across the state.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and support police efforts by providing timely and credible information. This information could help security agencies combat crime.
Police said investigation into the Ekiti kidnap plot remains ongoing.
