The Ekiti State Police Command has apprehended eleven individuals suspected of participating in the attack on a police station in Ikere Ekiti during the #EndSARS protest in 2020. Among these suspects, which total 17 individuals arrested for various offenses in the state, including a young lady, they were paraded before the media yesterday at the Command’s headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the state capital,leadership reports.
During the parade, DSP Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer, alleged that the detainees were also responsible for recent kidnappings and armed robberies in the state. The suspects have been identified as Adewumi Gbenga, Samson Gideon, Ogundare Tobi, Adamolekun Lekan, Olanipekun Daniel, Daramola Tope, Mayowa Ojo, Alaba Ayobami, Aremo Olatunji Oladele, Adebayo Peter, and Abiodun Bosede.
Abutu explained, “On 15/09/2023 at approximately 09:30hrs, acting on credible information that a group of suspected cultists, known for robbing innocent citizens, were planning another armed robbery in Ikere-Ekiti, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) swiftly mobilized to the location and apprehended them.”
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“Upon searching the suspects, an AK-47 rifle was recovered. Further investigation revealed that these individuals had participated in the attack on and arson of the Afao Divisional Police Headquarters in Ikere-Ekiti during the 2020 #EndSARS protest. They had also stolen the AK-47 rifle and other weapons and valuables from the station.”
“It has come to light that the recovered AK-47 rifle was used in the robbery and murder of Olasunkanmi Joseph, who was killed on the spot at Irona roundabout, Ado-Ekiti, on 06/04/2023, where the victim was robbed of three million, five hundred thousand naira (#3,500,00:00).”
“Additionally, Adewumi Gboyega, identified as a drug Baron and the current leader of the group, orchestrated the kidnapping of Falana Opeyemi on 11/07/2023 in Ikere-Ekiti, and the victim’s whereabouts remain unknown to this day.”
The police spokesperson stated that the suspects admitted to being members of the Supreme Eiye Confraternity cult group in Ikere-Ekiti during their interrogations. He also mentioned that RRS operatives are actively pursuing the arrest of individuals like Ojo Àlaba, Omotoso Sunday, Alabi Babatunde, and others who are on the run, in addition to recovering other potentially stolen firearms and ammunition.
Furthermore, Faponmile Mathew was arrested for assaulting and causing serious injuries to Ijadale Francis and Emmanuel Boluwatife, a filling station attendant, at Dove Filling Station in Aramoko-Ekiti.
