In connection with armed robbery attacks, rape cases, and killings in different parts of Ekiti State, police have detained and paraded 13 suspects and ex-convicts.
The defendants confessed to having created their gang after the disbandment of the SARS unit in October 2020, according to the state police command’s spokeswoman, Sunday Abutu, who was presenting the suspects to the media.
Nine of the accused were part of a murderous armed robbery squad, according to him, who confessed to carrying out operations in 96 properties in Ado-Ekiti and its surrounds in 2021, including Embassy Inland, Ado-Ekiti, and Ajebamidele Area.
“All the suspects confessed that they formed the gang and started robbing with arms immediately after the disbandment of SARS in October, 2020.
They took responsibility for the attack on Niran Students Hostel along Poly Road, Ado-Ekiti in 2021 where they raped two female students, and at Agogo Community in Ilupeju Avenue, Ado-Ekiti in 2021 where they killed one Joseph Blessing who was a night guard”.
Abutu stated that suspected armed robbers confessed to have killed a POS operator, Francis Apata, at Ilawe-Ekiti in December 2021.
”They also said they were responsible for the rape of a lady in January 2022 at Irewolede Estate area along Ilawe Road and at Oke Ureje Quarters in Ado-Ekiti at the same time.’
‘ he said According to him, the others were arrested on 1st January, 2022 at about 01:45am by the team of the RRS operatives for allegedly receiving stolen items from the robbery gang.
“Investigation revealed that all the arrested suspects are ex-convicts who had served different jail terms in the Nigeria Correctional Centre facilities in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State and Akure, Ondo State.
Effort is on top gear for the possible arrest of the fleeing members of the gang and the recovery of other stolen items”he said He said arms recovered from the suspects include Beretta pistols, 12 locally-made guns, two expended cartridges, 12 metal files, two metal hand saws and gun making tools.
