In Ekiti state, OJO OLADELE reports that there seems to be no zero tolerance for the existence of criminals any longer as the police have been curbing the menace
Ekiti state is one of the relatively peaceful states in Nigeria, no doubt, but hardly a day passes without incidences of crimes.
Rising against the likely prevalence of such trend, the police command in the state has been proactive in crimes prevention though not yet satisfactory due to the number of crimes perpetrated in various communities across the state.
In recent times, no fewer than 17 suspects were paraded over kidnapping, robbery and cultism.
Police scorecards
Ekiti state Police Commissioner Ogundare Dare who briefed the press with a view to showcasing some of the recent operations and achievements recorded said, “Assuredly, the command would at all times rise to its responsibility of protecting lives and property. In our continued determination to fight crimes and criminalities in the state, the Ekiti State Police Command under the watch and leadership of CP Ogundare Dare has clamped down on suspects in connection with different reprehensive crimes.”
Reeling out the Command’s landmark achievements through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abutu Sunday which include arrest of four suspected kidnappers, the police boss said, “On 06/04/2023, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) through a bush-combing operation arrested one Augustine Agbogbo, Adeniyi Olamilekan (a.k.a) LOKO, Williams Ukeuima Friday (a.k.a) COMMANDO and Ademoh Gabriel inside the forest close to Igede farm settlement.”
During interrogation, the suspects, according to the CP confessed to be members of a kidnapping syndicate engaged in series of kidnapping in the state including the kidnapping of one Ajibade Adeleke at Igede farm settlement in Ayede-Ekiti, the kidnapping of one Eisape Victoria, amongst others, where ransoms were collected.
Items recovered from the suspects, according to the police were one locally-made single barrel gun, one dane gun, three live cartridges and a bag of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
Also, on 05/04/2023, the police boss said there was an arrest of a notorious kidnapper by the RRS operatives during a bush-combing operation inside Kajola Forest Reserve of one Usman Ali who had been on the Command’s wanted list since December 2022 for different kidnapping incidents in Ekiti alongside one Aliu Shehu (aka) DANTIN and Salah (aka) Commander.
CP Dare said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate terrorising innocent road users along Ado/Ikole-Ekiti road.
In similar vein, the police boss said the command operatives in synergy with the Amotekun Security Network arrested One Abdullahi Bello in Ado-Ekiti.
Stressing further he said investigation revealed that the suspect was among the gang that abducted one Omoboade Adesina on 22/4/2022 adding that a cash sum of three hundred and forty-one thousand,five hundred naira suspected to be proceeds of ransom was recovered from him.
Still on kidnapping, on 05/04/2023, one Usman Bature was arrested by the operatives inside the forest reserve in Oke-Ako Ekiti.
“During investigation, it was revealed that the arrested suspect was among the hoodlums that laid siege along Oke Ako/Irele road on 03/09/2022, where the vehicle conveying one Ayebulu Segun, a civil defence officer alongside his siblings, was attacked.
“The officer was shot by the hoodlums and died on the spot while two other members of his family were kidnapped. Concerted effort intensified by the Command operatives later led to the rescue of the two kidnapped victims.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime alongside other members of his gang who are currently at large.
“During the arrest of the suspects, one Okolie Bethel Chisom was found held hostage by the suspects and rescued.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects lured the victim from Delta State to Ekiti state before being kidnapped and forced to pay a sum of two million, two hundred thousand naira before they were arrested and the arrested suspects confessed to the commission of the crime.”
Aside kidnapping, the Police Commissioner said, “In a bid to curb the clash between the rival secret cult groups known as Black Axe Aiye and Supreme Eiye Confraternity, the Command operatives, through intelligence gathering, arrested one Malik Jamiu (a.k.a) Jamorano, a suspected member of a secret cult group.
“Upon arrest of the suspect, two locally made pistols and two live cartridges were found in his possession.
“During investigation, the suspect confessed to be a member of one of the secret cult groups and mentioned the names of other members at large and effort to arrest other fleeing members is in progress.”
The CP said there was an arrest of three suspected cultists and drug barons on 01/04/2023 by the RRS operatives while acting upon a tip-off. In the process, they arrested one Bello Lateef (a.k.a) AWOLU, Bello Jumoke, and Adewoye Ayodeji for being suspected members of secret cults and sponsoring the clash between the supreme Eiye confraternity and black axe ‘Aiye’ confraternity in Ado-Ekiti.
The operatives of the Command in Odo-Ado Divisional Police Headquarters in collaboration with some community members in Oke-Ureje, Ado-Ekiti, the CP Ogundare Dare said on 6/04/2023 arrested one Saliu Oyebamiji and Ajisefe Mayowa with two stolen motorcycles.
It was gathered according to the Commissioner of Police that the two suspects carted away the two motorcycles from where they were parked and immediately rode them away, but were immediately given a hot chase by the police in conjunction with some community members and were apprehended and the two motorcycles recovered.
Also the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command on 4/4/2023 arrested one Jimoh Gani for participating in the robbing and raping of a student of University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.
The police chief said investigation revealed that the victim boarded a vehicle from Ado-Ekiti to Oye-Ekiti but on their way to Oye-Ekiti, the driver changed route and took her to A.U.D Secondary School where she was gangraped by the suspect alongside two others who are currently at large and robbed of her Tecno phone valued 65, 000 naira and cash sum of 16, 000 naira.
During interrogation, the CP said the suspect confessed to have committed the crime alongside one Femi Ayobami and Alfa Kayode, all of Ado-Ekiti, who but escaped the scene during arrest while their criminal hideouts was searched and several criminal charms used for their nefarious activities were recovered.
The Commissioner of Police however promised that all the suspects arrested would be arraigned in the court. He therefore appreciated members of the public most especially good spirited individuals for their cooperation by giving timely and useful information leading to some of their achievements.
The Command therefore enjoined citizens to be security-conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident observed in their locality to the nearest police station.
Collaboration with NUJ
Meanwhile, in an attempt to intensify moves towards getting rid of crimes in Ekiti, the Command and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council have formed a synergy to checkmate criminal activities across towns and villages.
The deal was sealed when CP Dare paid a courtesy call to the secretariat of the union recently.
Speaking during the visit, the CP explained that there was need for pen professionals to support police to check criminal activities through adequate reportage of the command’s activities.
Ogundare, however appreciated the efforts of journalists in the state on enlightening members of the public about the efforts being geared by the police officers to ensure that residents sleep with their two eyes closed.
State assembly’s collaboration too
Similarly, the state House of Assembly has pledged to support the command in fighting crime, maintenance of law, order and ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.
The speaker Olubunmi Adelugba made the pledge when she hosted the CP at the assembly complex.
While describing Ogundare as a competent police officer with vast experience, the speaker charged the officers to perform their duties with a sense of responsibility and respect the human rights of the people.
“The police and Ekiti State House of Assembly will always collaborate because we enjoy a very cordial relationship and I believe that this would continue during your tenure as the Commissioner of Police,” she said.
Meanwhile, the police boss also announced the arrest of a notorious kidnapper identified as ‘Danger’ in the state.
He stated that the suspect was traced to Kogi SHstate before he was arrested, adding that several other criminal suspects were also apprehended.
“Since my assumption of office, we have arrested a lot of criminals terrorizing the people and have prosecuted many of them,” he said.
“Today, we have gone to Kogi to arrest a notorious kidnapper, Danger, and he is now in our custody.”
As part of efforts geared towards tackling security challenges in the state, the commissioner said all entry and exit routes in Ekiti are well secured even as he directed more deployment to flashpoints.
