The police command in Ekiti says its operatives have arrested eight members of a kidnapping syndicate suspected to be involved in the abduction of five pupils, three teachers, and a driver of Apostolic Faith School in the state.
The victims were abducted on Monday, January 29, from their school bus in Ekiti state.
They were heading to Emure-Ekiti when the assailants intercepted their bus at Eporo-Ekiti.
On February 4, the victims regained their freedom.
Families of the victims said N15 million was paid as ransom to the kidnappers.
Speaking during the parade of the suspects in Ekiti on Friday, Abutu Sunday, spokesperson of the command, said police received a tip-off that some armed men were planning to kidnap expatriates in a dairy farm in Ikun Ekiti.
Sunday said the operatives mobilised to the farm and arrested one Abubakar Aliyu, who was on a mission to spy on the actual location of the expatriates.
“After the arrest of Abubakar Aliyu, the leader of the kidnapping gang, identified as one Sumo Karami, sent two vigilante members, one Saliu Ibrahim, and one Umaru Saliu, to secure the bail of the arrested gang member from police custody,” he said.
“The two vigilante members were arrested, and they led the RRS operatives to Oro-Ago town, where one Mohammed Bashiru, the leader of Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State, was arrested.
“During interrogation, Bashiru revealed that he is a relative of Sumo Karami, who is the leader of a dreaded kidnapping gang, and that Abubakar Aliyu is one of his gang members who have been terrorizing and kidnapping innocent citizens with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.
“Initial investigations revealed that Sumo Karami and his gang members were responsible for the kidnapping of the pupils and their teachers in Emure-Ekiti on 29th January 2024.
“Effort also led to the arrest of two other gang members, namely: Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo state.”
The police spokesperson added that one of the gang members identified as Ayuba was shot dead during a gun duel when operatives were attempting to make an arrest.
He said the phone used to demand ransom for the release of the abducted pupils and teachers had been retrieved.
