Operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested nine suspected kidnappers during a bush combing operation in the Ise/Emure Ekiti Forest, located along the border between Emure-Ekiti in Ekiti State and Emure-Ile in Ondo State.

Police sources quoted by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama said that that “the operation, which took place at about 6:35 p.m. on April 17, led to the arrest of the suspects who could not provide a satisfactory account of their presence in the forest.”

The suspects were identified as Sanusi Alhaji, Suleiman Ibrahim, Muritala Amodu, Seidu Muhammed, Tairu Amodu, Jibi Alhaji, Saleh Yau, Ibrahim Usman, and Mohammed Yau.

They are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation, while investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in recent kidnapping activities in the area, Zagalo Makama said.