Suspects Arrested In Ekiti Forest Search for the Abducted Students, Teachers Rises To 13

Meanwhile, the number of suspects arrested by security forces combing forests in Ekiti state to rescue the abducted five students, four teachers, and a driver, has increased to 13.

Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi says the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the immediate deployment of the assistant inspector general of police, Abioun Asabi to coordinate the search operation.

The AIG was to report at the police zone 17 headquarters, based in Akure, with additional personnel and assets.

Forests in Emure, Ise, Ogbese, in Ekiti state to Emure-Ile in Ondo state are being combed by the police, local hunters, vigilantes, Amotekun Corps, and Agbekoya members.

Ekiti state police command spokesman, Sunday Abutu listed some of those arrested in Ayedun/Ayebo Forests in Ikole Ekiti as Yaya Sumaila, Idris Abubakar, Usman Abdullahi, Haruna Abubakar, Haruna Sule, and Babura Lede.

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Also, the kidnappers were said to have reduced the ransom they were demanding to free the nine students, teachers, and drivers to N15 million from N100 million.

In a communique signed by the JSC Chairman, Tunji Falana, and General Secretary, Niyi Okunniga at the end of the JSC Summit which was held at Ikere Ekiti on Wednesday and made available on Thursday, the committee canvassed the use of technology (drone) to track the criminals in the forests, followed by mop up (bush combing).

Frontline monarch and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, lamented the spate of insecurity in the country, saying it calls for urgent attention from all tiers of government.

Oba Adejugbe, who commiserated with the people of Imojo, Esun Ekiti, and Ekiti State in general, over the demise of their monarchs, said it is disheartening and an abomination to take the lives of kings in such a wicked manner.

“The traditional institution is sacred and must be treated as such. Monarchs don’t deserve gruesome death in the course of serving their people,’’ the statement read in part.