Ekiti State Police Command has successfully foiled a planned kidnapping operation and arrested two suspects involved in cattle rustling.
The arrests were made on July 4 during an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with officers from the Ayede-Ekiti Divisional Police Headquarters and local vigilantes. The suspects were apprehended in a forest along the Are-Afao Road/Ayede-Ekiti axis.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, identified the suspects as Mumini Muhammed, 23, and Kehinde Oseni, 22. Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo had finalized plans to kidnap a resident of Ayede-Ekiti.
According to the police, the suspects were intercepted while attempting to sell two stolen cows for N1.5 million. The proceeds were allegedly intended to finance the planned kidnapping.
The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime and provided useful statements to investigators. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and recover firearms and additional
