By Olugbenga ‘Toye
The Ekiti State Police Command has recorded major operational breakthroughs with the arrest of 44 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, cattle rustling, burglary, child exploitation and stealing, while recovering 558 rustled cattle, stolen vehicles and other incriminating items.
Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti. According to him, the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at maintaining the peaceful atmosphere currently enjoyed in the state.
Among the suspects arrested were members of a notorious car-snatching gang responsible for stealing Toyota Corolla vehicles across Ado-Ekiti and its environs.
Police operatives recovered seven stolen vehicles, 10 fabricated master keys and different vehicle plate numbers from the suspects, while investigations revealed that about 29 master keys were fabricated by the gang.
The Command also arrested a notorious cattle rustling and kidnapping kingpin, Ibrahim Abubakar, who confessed to rustling cattle across Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states. A total of 255 rustled cattle were recovered from him, while 16 other suspected cattle rustlers linked to the same gang were arrested with 303 cattle in their possession.
In another operation, a suspected armed robber and serial burglar was arrested along Iworoko/Ado Road, leading to the recovery of stolen goods, vehicles and other items from criminal hideouts in Kogi and Kwara states.
The Police also dismantled an illegal baby factory in Ikere-Ekiti, arresting five suspects and rescuing six children aged between two and nine years suspected to be victims of exploitation.
Additionally, four suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of 12 MTN SIM card registration devices valued at ₦13 million, with 10 of the devices recovered.
CP Eribo said all suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. He commended Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for their support, while urging residents to remain security conscious and report suspicious activities to the Police.