- He stated that the same individuals were responsible for other killings in the state last week
Men of the Ekiti State Police Command have arrested the individuals responsible for the killing of a Point of Sales operator and a rice hawker in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, last week.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeniran Akinwale, announced this on Wednesday while presenting 21 suspects arrested for various crimes in the state. He stated that the same individuals were responsible for other killings in the state last week.
Recall that last Tuesday, gunmen on motorbikes killed a ticket officer of the Commercial Motorcycles Riders Association. Additionally, on Thursday, they shot dead a PoS operator in the EKSUTH area and a rice hawker in the Oja Bisi area.
The CP, represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the investigations.
He implored residents “to be security conscious and report to the nearest police station any suspicious person or group of persons.”
Abutu said three members of the killer squad, who also belong to Eiye Confraternity, were arrested while police were on the trail of others who are on the run.
The PPRO said that following the recent fracas among rival secret cult group members, especially the Supreme “Eiye” Confraternity and the Black Axe “Aiye” Confraternity in Ado-Ekiti that led to unrest as well as killing and robbing of innocent citizens, “the command activated a full-scale manhunt to arrest the perpetrators, bring them to justice and restore a peaceful atmosphere.”
He said that the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, “acting on credible tip-off, arrested one Aluko Olamide in Ado Ekiti. Further investigation led to the arrest of one Atewogboye Olumide Emmanuel at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti. Intensified effort led to the arrest of one Salawudeen Lookman.”
He listed exhibits recovered from them to include phones, SIM cards, locally made single barrel guns and cartridges.
Abutu said, “The suspects confessed that they, alongside other fleeing members of their gang identified as Atewogboye Ibrahim and one nicknamed Tornado, were responsible for the killing of one Omoyajowo Olanipekun (ticket agent) on Tuesday last week, the killing of one Ibrahim Taofeek Ayinde (POS operator), and the killing of one Abdullahi Dogon-Daji (rice hawker) on Thursday last week.
“They equally confessed to the attacking and killing of one Abdullahi Abubakar on June 19 during the process of robbing him of his motorcycle. The gang equally shot one Olakunle Rasak at Ori Apata, Along Adebayo Area, Ado-Ekiti, who is presently receiving treating in the hospital.
“The suspects confessed further that the killing of the rice hawker inside Bisi Market was a mistake as they actually targeted a rival cult member who was standing beside the victim.
“According to them, the attack was to revenge the killing of one Okunola Dami, who was their member, who was shot dead on 27th May 2024 around Dalimore Area, of Ado-Ekiti, by members of a rival secret cult group.”
Other suspects paraded included four suspects who confessed to have been responsible for the robbery attacks on different innocent citizens in Ado-Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti.
The suspects also included five men who confessed they specialised in stealing vehicles from where they were parked within Ado Ekiti.
The Planter, Christ Apostolic Church Adamimogo, Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, Sam Olu, had last week, urged security agencies and Ekiti State Government to be proactive in bringing the killers to book.