- Safiu Kehinde
The Ekiti State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping operation and arrested two suspected kidnappers and cattle rustlers following a credible intelligence-led operation.
This was made known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, Abutu Sunday.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested on Saturday at about 1:00 p.m. by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with officers of the Ayede-Ekiti Divisional Police Headquarters and local vigilantes.
The suspects identified as 23-year-old Mumini Muhammed and 22-year-old Kehinde Oseni were apprehended in a forest along the Are–Afao Road/Ayede-Ekiti axis while attempting to sell two stolen cows to finance their kidnap plot.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were planning to kidnap a resident of Ayede-Ekiti prior to their arrest.
“They were intercepted while attempting to sell two stolen cows for N1.5 million, with the proceeds allegedly intended to finance the planned kidnapping.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and made other useful confessional statements, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and recover the firearms and other weapons in their possession.” Abutu wrote.
The police spokesperson assured that the arrested suspects will be charged to court immediately after the investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the owner of the recovered cattle was identified, and the two cows have since been released to him.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Falade urged residents to remain law-abiding and continue to support the Police by providing timely, credible, and useful information that will aid in combating crime and criminality across the State.