Ekiti Kidnap Syndicate: Police Arrests Fleeing Abductors, Six Others

The Ekiti State Police Command has disclosed that it has arrested a kidnap kingpin who allegedly played a prominent role in the Abduction of a petroleum dealer in Ado-Ekiti, Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami sometime in January this year.

Recall that the Police Command had earlier paraded four members of the kidnap syndicate headed by Ogunremi Bunmi in Ado-Ekiti, a fortnight ago before recording this breakthrough. 

Parading the suspects before Journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu explained that the suspects were arrested based on the thorough investigation by a team of the Rapid Response Team of the Command (RRS) but he didn't disclose when exactly they were apprehended.

A ring leader of the Akinbami’s abduction, Dele Petim was arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, while another member of the gang was arrested in Ilesa, Osun state. 

Johnson Apotire, a native of Agbado-Ekiti who confessed to being a member of the notorious kidnapping gang, further stated that he usually impersonated Fulani herdsman due to his physical resemblance to a Fulani man.

The suspects told journalists during the parade that he specialised in burglary and stealing and has burgled more than ten shops and houses and carted away more than twelve motorcycles.

Dele also confessed that the four guns earlier recovered by the Police were concealed by him in his mother-in-law’s house in Ado-Ekiti.

The suspects also mentioned a Kwara-based Alhaji, Adebayo Ahmed, who was also paraded by the police as his major collector of the stolen motorcycle and other loots, adding that Ahmed was not unaware of his criminal activities.

The Police spokesperson also confirmed to newsmen that another member of the kidnapping syndicate, Ayeni Blessing was also arrested while Femi Adewale is still at large.

Abutu further explained that the duty of the two suspects was to identify who to be kidnapped by the gang, adding that Ayeni Blessing and Femi Adewale were the informants who identified late Chief Ayeni Abiodun who was kidnapped by the gang but jumped out of their moving vehicle and later died of his wounds while receiving medical attention in the hospital.

Another member of the kidnapping syndicate who is 63 years old dismissed former policeman Ayo Samuel who confessed to newsmen that he has participated in different kidnappings and robberies in Ekiti State.

The PPRO maintained that efforts were still on for the possible arrest of Samuel Ebira and Dayo Igwe who were mentioned by the arrested gang members but still at large.

The Police Command also paraded another suspect of the kidnapping syndicate, Mubarak Bello, who was arrested in Igbara Odo-Ekiti where he was demanding ransom.

Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to committing the crime and mentioned one Ali Ibrahim as his accomplice.

The PPRO told journalists that the suspects would soon be charged to court once investigations were concluded in the matter.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects include expensive women weave-on worth N2 million naira, hair attachments and cut-to-size locally made guns, A 2019 Toyota Corolla, police uniforms, and a military vest among others.