The suspects were identified as Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi and Suleiman Abdulahi by the police.
The police in Ekiti State on Tuesday said their personnel had arrested five suspected kidnappers inside a bush around Iju/Ikere boundary in the state.
The command revealed this in a press statement, stating that the suspected kidnappers were apprehended by the combined efforts of the police and other security operatives.
The statement reads: “In a bid to flush out criminal elements especially kidnappers out of the State, a combined team of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, O.P.C and local hunters today being embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary.”
The suspects were identified as Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi and Suleiman Abdulahi by the police.
The statement added: “During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be herdsmen but it was later discovered that none of them has cattle and no cattle was found with them in the forest where they were arrested.”
The arrest of the five suspects came a few hours after the state government confirmed the bandit attack and abduction of students, teachers, and a driver in the Emure-Ekiti area of the state.
In a video seen by SaharaReporters, sources said the children were kidnapped while on their way to Eporo Ekiti after school hours in their bus.
It was gathered that the incident caused panic among residents of the town. Some residents have appealed to security agencies for protection.
SaharaReporters had also reported that suspected terrorists attacked Oke-Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area of the state and killed two traditional rulers.
The traditional rulers- the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola - were killed in an ambush by the armed men while returning from a meeting.
A third traditional ruler, Alara of Ara–Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped the attack.
In another statement on Tuesday, the state police command said it was a “suspected case of murder”.
“Necessary action is underway as Tactical and Intelligence teams have been deployed to that axis in order to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book,” it added.