By Afolabi Sunday
In its efforts to sanitise the state from all forms of crimes and also rise up to it’s mandatory and statutory duty to protect lives and properties, the Ekiti State Police under the leadership of CP Ogundare Dare parades some suspected criminals who were recently apprehended in Ekiti State.
The Suspects who were arrested on different related cases of cultism, impersonation and attempted murder were paraded at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti today, 22nd, September, 2023.
According to the Force PPRO, DSP Abutu Sunday, the Police Command on 15th, September, arrested one Faponmile Matthew at Dove filling station in Aramoko Ekiti while attempting to kill one Ijadale Francis whom he has inflicted with serious injuries along with another victim, one Emmanuel Boluwatife, an attendant in the filling station who also sustained serious injuries.
Investigation revealed that the suspect is an impersonator and a serial offender who had been arrested by the Command and charged to court for impersonating to be a military personnel. Upon his arrest, one baton was recovered from him which was one of the weapons he used to attack the victims.
It is on record that items such as camouflage uniforms, boots, badges, tags and other military accoutrements were recovered from him during his previous arrest.
Also on the same day, base on a credible tip off that some suspected cultists who usually rob innocent citizens of their valuables were planning another armed robbery attack from their hideout in Ikere-Ekiti, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) immediately mobilized to the scene.
One Adewumi Gbenga a.k.a PASU, Samson Gideon, Ogundare Tobi, Adamolekun Lekan, Olanipekun Daniel a.k.a FINEST, Daramola Tope, Mayowa Ojo, Alaba Ayobami, Aremo Olatunji Oladele, Adebayo Peter and Abiodun Bosede were arrested.
Upon search, one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the suspects. Investigation revealed that the suspects partook in the attack and setting ablaze of Afao Divisional Police Headquarters, Ikere-Ekiti during the ENDSARS protest in 2020 and carted away the AK-47 rifle amongst other arms and valuables from the station.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to be members of the supreme Eiye Confraternity cult group in Ikere-Ekiti. Also, intensified efforts by the RRS operatives led to the arrest of one Ojo Àlaba, Omotoso Sunday and Alabi Babatunde.
It was revealed that the AK-47 rifle is part of the arms used to rob one Olasunkanmi Joseph of the cash sum of three million, five hundred thousand naira(#3,500,00:00) at Irona roundabout, Ado-Ekiti on the 6th,April, where the victim was killed on the spot.
According to the PPRO, further finding showed that one of the arrested suspects, ADEWUMI GBOYEGA a.k.a PASU, who is a drug Baron and present leader of Supreme Eiye Confraternity, masterminded the kidnapping of one Falana Opeyemi on 11th, July, in Ikere-Ekiti whose whereabouts remains unknown till date.
Abutu said effort is underway for the arrest of other fleeing suspects and recovery of other possible stolen arms and ammunition.
He said further that acting on a tip off, the Command’s operatives swooped on a gang of suspected cultists in their criminal hideouts along Iworoko road, Ado-Ekiti, where one Lucky Favour and Lawal Oluwaseun were arrested while others took to their heels.
It was revealed that the two suspects are members of the supreme Eiye Confraternity preparing for initiation meeting prior to their arrest.
The PPRO appreciates members of the public for their vigilance and cooperation by giving timely and useful information promising that the command will do all within its reach to protect lives and properties of innocent citizens in the State.
While enjoining everyone to be security conscious and vigilant, he promised that all the suspects arrested will be arraigned accordingly.
