Police in Ekiti say they have arrested eight suspected kidnappers believed to be involved in the abduction of five pupils and four staff of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Emure-Ekiti.
The gunmen on Monday ambushed the school bus conveying the pupils and staff to Eporo, a suburb of Emure, and took them away.
The kidnappers earlier made N100m ransom but later reduced it to N15m for nine of their victims.
However, in a statement on Thursday, Ekiti police spokesperson Sunday Abutu said the suspects were arrested by combined security agencies during a bush combing operation in Ekiti and Ondo forests.
According to Abutu, items recovered from the suspects were three cutlasses axe, dagger, a life cow, and food items.
Abutu further added that the suspects are currently undergoing investigations while calling on members of the public to support the police with credible and timely information.
The statement reads: “Following the recent kidnapping of some school children in Emure-Ekiti and the killing of two traditional rulers in Ikole-Ekiti, the Command, to ensure the rescue of the victims and the apprehension of the culprits, deployed the Rapid Response Squad for a bush combing operation in collaboration with the military personnel, Amotekun Corps, Vigilantes, Local Hunters, Members of Agbekoya Group including Policemen and Amotekun Corps from Ondo State.
“During the operation which was carried out through Emure Forest, Ise/Ogbese Forest to Emure-Ile Forest in Ondo State, the following eight suspects were further arrested in the Forests: YAYA SUMAILA, IDRISU ABUBAKAR, HASSAN ABDULAHI, ABUDULLAHI ABUDULLAHI, HARUNA ABUBAKAR, USMAN ABUDULLAHI, HARUNA SULE including one BABUSA ALHAJI LEDE who was arrested inside Ayedun/ Ayebode Ekiti forest in Ikole Area of the State.”
