Police Nab Notorious Car Thieves, 5 Others In Ekiti 

No fewer than seven persons have been arrested for various criminal offences by the men of the Ekiti State Police Command.

The suspects were arrested in different parts of the state over different criminal activities which include stealing, armed robbery, burglary and attempted murder.

Parading the suspects to newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale said two notorious car thieves, Ayeni Oluwasegun Emmanuel and Suleiman Olaoluwa were among the arrested suspects.

Akinwale who was represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu, said the suspects were arrested within Ekiti State University Campus while attempting to remove one Toyota Matrix Car from where it was parked.

“Upon the arrest of the suspects, they made confessional statement that they had earlier, on 16/02/2024, forcefully opened the door of a Toyota Corolla car parked within the premises of the institution and stole one HP Laptop computer and different assorted clothes kept inside the vehicle.

“Olaoluwa was identified by a victim as one of the armed robbers that robbed him of cash sum of N365, 000 and two IPhones before dispossessing him of his Toyota Corolla Car at his resident in GRA, Ado-Ekiti,” Abutu said.

He further said that investigation revealed that the suspects were responsible for the stealing of a Toyota Corolla Car in Ado-Ekiti on 27/05/2021, a Toyota Camry Car in Ado-Ekiti on 02/10/2022, a Toyota Camry in Ado-Ekiti on 07/12/2022 and a Toyota Matrix Car in Ado-Ekiti on 15/12/2024, all belonging to different owners.

“The suspects also stole a cash sum of N550, 000 from a vehicle parked at the owner’s premises at GRA, Ado-Ekiti, on 02/02/2024,” the police spokesman said.

In another operation, Abutu said the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arrested one Emmanuel Kehinde Isaac and Daniel Olamide Friday, based on a credible tip-off that a group of suspected armed robbers was sighted in a house in Iyin-Ekiti.

He said that the RRS operatives swiftly mobilized to the scene and condoned off the building where two suspects were arrested while others escaped.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they specialize in hijacking motorcycles in Ado/Ikere Ekiti expressway from motorcyclists by using offensive weapons such as cutlasses and iron rods and that they have hijacked about eleven motorcycles in Ikere and Ado-Ekiti within six months in 2023.”

Abutu added that they also confessed to have attacked one Ojo Boyede in Ikere-Ekiti to rob him of his Bajaj motorcycle and attempted to murder him by inflicting high degree bodily injuries on him with iron rod.

“Three of the stolen Bajaj Motorcycles were recovered from them while effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members and recovery of the stolen motorcycles.”

He said one Awe Deji, a serial burglar, was also arrested within the premises of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, by the Security Guards on duty for attempting to steal one motorcycle therein while other gang members escaped.

“The suspect was thereafter handed over to the Police and effort intensified by the Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) led to the arrest of one of the fleeing gang Members – Ganiyu Rasaq a.k.a Ategun.

“Investigation revealed that the gang was responsible for the stealing of numerous vehicles and motorcycles from the hospital prior to their arrest and effort is underway to apprehend other fleeing suspects.”

Also one Peter Olutade was apprehended for allegedly stealing 18 lengths of 12mm iron rods valued N261, 000 and other construction materials from a store inside Ekiti State Airport.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the Commission of the crime and further said that he has previously involved in stealing of numerous iron rods from the site.”

The police image maker said all the suspects arrested will be arraigned accordingly.

The Command implores all residents to be security conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest Police Station or call 08063335577.