Eight Suspects, Including Two Vigilante Officers, Arrested in Connection with Ekiti Pupils Kidnapping Cases

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Ekiti State, Nigeria, has arrested eight suspects in connection with various kidnapping cases, including the abduction of pupils from the Apostolic Faith Groups of School in Emure Local Government. The suspects include two vigilante officers, Saliu Ibrahim and Umaru Saliu.

The arrests were made following a tip-off that a gang of armed men was planning to kidnap some expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti. One of the gang members, Abubakar Aliyu, a.k.a. Smallie, was arrested while on a mission to spy on the expatriates’ location.

Upon his arrest, the leader of the kidnapping gang, Sumo Karami, sent the two vigilante officers to secure Aliyu’s release from police custody.

However, they were also apprehended and subsequently led the RRS operatives to the gang’s hideout in the forest.

During the operation, one of the gang members, Ayuba, was neutralized, while another, Abubakar Mohammed, a.k.a. Smallie, was captured alive. Other gang members managed to escape through the forest.

Investigations revealed that the syndicate was responsible for several high-profile kidnappings in the state, including the abduction of the APC Chairman, Paul Omotosho, along Agbado/Imesi, Ekiti road in July 2023, and the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Awoniyi along Ikere/Itaogbolu road in January 2024.

The suspects are currently in police custody and have provided valuable information about their involvement in the kidnapping of the pupils and teachers of the Apostolic Faith Secondary School in Emure-Ekiti on January 29, 2024.

The police recovered various items from the suspects, including an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, 21 live rounds of ammunition, and several mobile phones.

This successful operation by the RRS demonstrates the commitment of the Nigerian police to combating crime and ensuring the safety of its citizens. The suspects will be charged and prosecuted accordingly.