Ekiti: “We formed robbery gang after SARS was disbanded”, ex-convicts confess

Operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command have arrested and paraded 13 suspects and ex-convicts in connection with armed robbery attacks, rape incidents and killings in some parts of the state.

While parading the suspects before newsmen, the state police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, said the suspects confessed to have formed their gang after the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in October 2020.

Abutu said that nine of the suspects were members of a killer armed robbery squad who confessed to have carried out operations in 96 houses within Ado-Ekiti and its environs such as Embassy Inland, Ado-Ekit and Ajebamidele Area in 2021.

“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.