The Ekiti State Police Command said three persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the killings that occurred in the state last week.

Police accused the three suspects of responsibility in the last week’s killing in Ado-Ekiti of a ticketing officer working with the Okada Riders Association, a petty trader and two other persons.

Among those arrested included a United Arab Emirates (UAE) returnee and jail-break escapee named Omotuyi Temitope who was earlier imprisoned for armed robbery.

Parading the three alongside seventeen (17) other suspects arrested for various offences to newsmen on Wednesday at the Command headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the state’s police spokesperson, DSP Sunday Abutu said the recent fracas among rival secret cults group members, especially the Supreme “Eiye” Confraternity and the Black Axe “Aiye” Confraternity in Ado-Ekiti led to serious unrest as well as killing and robbing of innocent citizens.

The PPRO said, “The Command activated a full-scale manhunt to arrest the perpetrators, bring them to justice and restore a peaceful atmosphere.

“Through this, the Command RRS Operatives, acting on credible tip-off, arrested one Aluko Olamide in Ado-Ekiti on 23/06/2024. A search was conducted in his house and three mobile phones, six ATM Cards and thirty-two different Sim Cards belonging to victims were recovered”.

He said further investigation led to the arrest of one Atewogboye Olumide Emmanuel at Ekute Quarters, Ado-Ekiti on June 24, 2024.

“A search of his room was carried out and two locally made Single Barrel guns and nine live cartridges were recovered,” Abutu said.

The same day, he added that investigation led to the arrest of one Salawudeen Lookman, one of the killer squad members and member of Eiye Confraternity.

“The suspects confessed that they, alongside other fleeing members of their gang identified as Atewogboye Ibrahim a.k.a Apeleko, Lati Olorifunfun and one nicknamed Tornado, were responsible for the killing of one Omoyajowo Olanipekun at Okesa Junction, Ado-Ekiti on 18/06/2024, the killing of one Ibrahim Taofeek Ayinde at Opposite Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, and the killing of one Abdullahi Dogon-Daji inside Bisi Market, Ado-Ekiti, on 20/06/2024.

“They equally confessed to the attacking and killing of one Abdullahi Abubakar on 19/06/2024 during the process of robbing him of his motorcycle. The gang equally shot one Olakunle Rasak at Ori Apata, Along Adebayo Area, Ado-Ekiti, who is presently receiving treating in the hospital.”

Abutu said the suspects further confessed that the killing of Dogon-Daji inside Bisi Market was a mistake as they actually targeted a rival cult member who was standing beside the victim.

“According to them, the attack was to revenge the killing of one Okunola Dami a.k.a Dami Richie, who was their member, that was shot dead on 27/05/2024 around Dalimore Area, beside Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, by members of a rival secret cult group,” the police spokesperson said.

Speaking further on the Dubai returnee, he said Omotuyi was arrested inside one hotel by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives through credible information.

He said, “The suspect alongside four other suspects had earlier in 2012 been arrested for the offence of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery.

“They were charged to court and remanded in the Correctional Centre, Ado-Ekiti. While in Correctional Centre, the suspect and one Jimoh Sadiku colluded with their gang members outside the Correctional Centre and broke the Correctional Centre gate which resulted to the escape of two hundred and twenty inmates.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect thereafter, fled to United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he involved in a murder case, arrested, imprisoned for six years and later repatriated to Nigeria.

It was also revealed that the suspect alongside other members of his gang currently at large, have robbed many innocent citizens within Ado-Ekiti.

Abutu said investigation is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members and that all the suspects arrested will be arraigned accordingly.