Ekiti state police have arrested herder leaders in the state in connection with alleged kidnappings and murders.
Those arrested reportedly included Sarkin Fulani in Ekiti state and the head of the Nigerian Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Abashe Adamu, and a former state councillor, Ibrahim Mumini.
The police described Messrs. Adamu and Mumuni as kidnapping kingpins, who were arrested in Ido-Ekiti on June 29, 2022.
They are alleged to have coordinated numerous high-profile kidnappings in Ekiti, including the kidnapping of Adeeko Ademola and Nasiru Salisu at Adamsy Sawmill, Aisegba-Ekiti in Gbonyin State Local Government Area.
Sunday Abutu, the police spokesman in the state, said in a statement Sunday in Ado Ekiti that police rapid response squad and the vigilantes, acting with credible intelligence, arrested the suspects.
“During interrogation, Ibrahim Mumini Toyin confessed to committing the crime and stated that the cowardly act of kidnapping and murdering one of the two victims was carried out by himself and four other sons of Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris and that they are currently in prison big,” the statement said.
“Ibrahim Mumini Toyin further confessed that Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris is his capo, adding that the ransom collected from his victims was used to purchase cattle by Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris to increase his cattle herd.
“Ibrahim Mumini Toyin revealed that Alhaji Abashe Adamu Idris used his own share of the allegedly paid ransom to buy cattle from him.”
Abutu added that the suspects are being held for questioning and will be prosecuted after the conclusion of the investigation.
Ekiti state had become the hotbed for kidnappings in the southwestern region of the country in the recent test.
Four major kidnappings had occurred since April of this year.
On June 22, 2022, a retired chief pharmacist from the Ekiti Ministry of Health, Israel Bamisaye, was abducted by unknown gunmen from his farm.
He was only released a few days later after parting ways with N4.5million.