In a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping, the Ekiti State Police Command has arrested nine suspected kidnappers during a co-ordinated bush-combing operation in the Ise/Emure Ekiti Forest. The forest, which stretches along the border between Emure-Ekiti in Ekiti State and Emure-Ile in Ondo State, has in recent times been a hideout for suspected criminal gangs.
According to a statement made available to journalists, the operation was carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Ekiti State Police Command on Wednesday, April 17, 2025, at about 6:35 p.m.
Police sources confirmed that the operation followed credible intelligence reports indicating the presence of strange movements and suspicious gatherings in the forest area. Acting swiftly, the RRS officers launched a raid and apprehended nine men believed to be involved in kidnapping activities.
The arrested suspects were identified as:
– Sanusi Alhaji
– Suleiman Ibrahim
– Muritala Amodu
– Seidu Muhammed
– Tairu Amodu
– Jibi Alhaji
– Saleh Yau
– Ibrahim Usman
– Mohammed Yau
According to the police, the men were found deep in the forest without any credible explanation for their presence. The command noted that they could not provide satisfactory responses when questioned by officers at the scene.
“They were arrested during a routine bush-combing operation, which is part of our increased efforts to rid Ekiti State of criminal elements hiding in forested areas,” one of the officers said.
“All suspects are currently in our custody and undergoing interrogation. We are investigating their possible connection to recent kidnapping incidents in the Emure and Ise axis,” the source added.
In recent years, dense forests in the southwestern region, including those stretching across state borders like Ekiti and Ondo, have become notorious for serving as hideouts for kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal groups. Victims of abductions are often held in these remote locations where security patrol is limited, and access is difficult.
Security experts have continued to warn that inter-state borders, especially where forest belts connect rural areas, provide ideal cover for criminal gangs who move swiftly between states to evade arrest.
Residents of communities near the forest have repeatedly raised alarms about strange faces and unfamiliar movements in the area, urging security forces to take more decisive action.
Following the arrests, community leaders and residents in Emure-Ekiti and surrounding towns have expressed relief. Many commended the police for acting promptly on the intelligence and called for continuous surveillance of the forest areas.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who has repeatedly stressed the importance of peace and security to the state’s development, has been in regular consultation with security agencies to strengthen surveillance, especially in border areas.
The governor has also advocated for improved inter-state cooperation among neighbouring states, especially in tackling criminal groups that take advantage of jurisdictional boundaries to escape justice.
As investigations into the case continue, many residents are calling for the complete clearing of the forest area believed to be used as hideouts by criminal gangs. They also want regular patrols and permanent security checkpoints along rural routes.
The arrest of the nine suspected kidnappers is a significant step, but the people of Ekiti know that the fight against insecurity requires consistent action and vigilance.
