Over the weekend, the Ekiti State Police Command paraded eight suspected kidnappers, which included two vigilante officers. These individuals were allegedly involved in various kidnapping cases, including the abduction of pupils from the Apostolic Faith Groups of School in Emure Local Government.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti attributed the success to the persistent efforts of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) officers in the state.
The Ekiti Police boss said the vigilante officers, Saliu Ibrahim, Umaru Saliu, and six other suspects were arrested after RRS received tip-off that a gang of armed men invaded a farmland at Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti and were planning to kidnap some expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti.
As a result of these efforts, Abubakar Aliyu, also known as Smallie, was apprehended while he was attempting to gather intelligence on the whereabouts of the expatriates. Following his arrest, the leader of the kidnapping gang, identified as Sumo Karami, instructed the two vigilante officers to secure the release of the detained gang member from police custody.
However, the vigilante officers were apprehended, and they led the RRS operatives to Oro-Ago town where they arrested Mohammed Bashiru, the leader of the Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State.
According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu, it was added, “During interrogation, Mohammed Bashiru disclosed that he is a relative of Sumo Karami, who is a leader of a notorious kidnapping gang. He also revealed that Abubakar Aliyu, alias Smallie, is one of his gang members who have been terrorizing and kidnapping innocent citizens using 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.’’
“Meanwhile, the phone used to demand for ransom for the release of the Pupils and the Teachers was recovered from the suspects and effort intensified led to the arrest of two (2) among the gang members, namely: Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Kenneth Ugwu in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 14/02/2024. The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate who kidnapped 5 Pupils, three (3) teachers and a driver in Emure-Ekiti who was allegedly killed by the kidnappers.
“The suspect led a team of RRS operatives to the kidnapper’s hideout inside Agric Reserved Forest between Ise-Ekiti/Emure-Ekiti. On sighting the Police, the armed hoodlums engaged the team in a gun duel.
“In the process, one of the gang members who was later identified as Ayuba was neutralized, one Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a Smallie was captured alive while other gang members escaped through the forest.
“Investigation revealed that the syndicate was responsible for the kidnapping of one Paul Omotosho, the APC Chairman, Ekiti State, along Agbado/Imesi, Ekiti road on 08/07/2023, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Awoniyi along Ikere/Itaogbolu road in the month of January this year and the kidnapping of teachers and pupils of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024.”
What are the security operatives still waiting for? Let them bring the kidnappers back to Emure so that people can descend on them too.
They should be killed and roasted like chicken the way they killed the driver’s of the pupils bus