The Ekiti state police command on Friday disclosed that it had arrested three out of five suspected herdsmen who allegedly barricaded the highway and robbing commuters of their possessions.
Those arrested were Usman Ibrahim, Ali Salisu and Sidikia Manbagri.
The bandits were alleged to have mounted roadblock on Usho Road in Ise Ekiti, in Ise/Orun council area of the state and robbed motorists with guns and other dangerous weapons.
It was reliably gathered from residents that the five suspected herders started the highway raid at about 10am, where they terrorised the people and dispossessed them of their monies and other valuables.
It took the courage of some brave members of the public dial the police emergency security lines, leading to arrest the men of the underworld.
A source said: “Information reached the police at about 10.15am that five herdsmen mounted roadblock along Usho Road in Ise Ekiti terrorising the road users with dangerous weapons like daggers and cutlasses. A police patrol team swung into action and arrested two of them, Usman Ibrahim and Ali Salisu on the spot while the remaining three fled into the bush.
“Upon combing the bush for the fleeing suspects, another suspect, named Sidikia Manbagri, was arrested. Our men are still in the bush to find the remaining two suspects,” the police source said.
The Ekiti state Commissioner of Police, Ekiti command, Mr. Asuquo Amba, while confirming the arrest, said, “Some men suspected to be herdsmen mounted a roadblock. We are still into it to find out why they behaved that way. We will brief the press on further development.”
Also speaking about the incident, the chairman, Joint Security Committee of Emure, Ise and Ikere council areas, Elder Tunji Falana, applauded the police for “their quick intervention which saved the situation.”
