Ekiti Police parades self-acclaimed Yoruba nation agitator for attempted robbery

Adebayo Adenrele

…says suspect, 16 others ‘ll be prosecuted




The Ekiti State Police Command, on Friday paraded one self-acclaimed Yoruba nation agitator known as, Olatunji Oladele for attempted robbery in Ikere-Ekiti.

While briefing Press men in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Sunday Abutu said Oladele, who identified himself as the Coordinator of the movement in Ikere-Ekiti, was also nabbed for unlawful possession of an AK-47 Rifle, which was carted away after him and some suspects set ablaze Afao Divisional Police Headquarters, Ikere-Ekiti during the ENDSARS protest in 2020.

According to him, the AK-47 Rifle was also part of the arms used to rob one Point-of-sale (POS) Operator, Olasunkanmi Joseph of the cash sum of three million, five hundred thousand naira at Irona roundabout, Ado-Ekiti where the victim was killed on the spot.

The statement read in part, “On the 15/09/2023 at about 09:30hrs, base on a credible tip off that some suspected cultists who usually rob innocent citizens of their valuables were planning another armed robbery attack from their hideout in Ikere-Ekiti, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) immediately mobilized to the scene and arrested one Adewumi Gbenga a.k.a PASU, Samson Gideon, Ogundare Tobi, Adamolekun Lekan, Olanipekun Daniel a.k.a FINEST, Daramola Tope, Mayowa Ojo, Alaba Ayobami, Aremo Olatunji Oladele, Adebayo Peter and Abiodun Bosede.

“Upon search, one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the suspects. Investigation revealed that the suspects partook in the attack and setting ablaze of Afao Divisional Police Headquarters, Ikere-Ekiti during the ENDSARS protest in 2020 and carted away the AK-47 rifle amongst other arms and valuables from the station.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to be members of the supreme Eiye Confraternity cult group in Ikere-Ekiti.

“Intensified efforts by the RRS operatives led to the arrest of one Ojo Alaba, Omotoso Sunday and Alabi Babatunde.

“It was revealed that the AK-47 rifle is part of the arms used to rob one Olasunkanmi Joseph of the cash sum of three million, five hundred thousand naira(#3,500,00:00) at Irona roundabout, Ado-Ekiti on 06/04/2023 where the victim was killed on the spot.

Speaking with NEWSTODAYNG, Oladele said,
“I’m an agitator for Yoruba nation and the coordinator in Ikere-Ekiti. Fulani herdsmen were kidnapping and terrorising our town that time. Been an association of Yoruba nation, we are fighting for self-determination, I put it to my people to play safe and now.

“Then one of our members said why should we the freedom fighters be in Ikere-Ekiti and all these things are happening and that we can’t go to the bush and meet these Fulani herdsmen in the bush with bare hands or ordinary stick.

“Our local coordinator in South Africa asked why can’t we go there, we said we don’t have ammunition to attack those fulanis. And Mr Daniel Olanipekun said he has one AK-47 but no magazine.

“We told the person in South Africa that we can’t handle the rifle and he asked don’t we have local hunters and we said there is volunteer groups that goes to the bush.

“Since we collected the rifle in Ibadan, we haven’t attempt any robbery, killing and kidnapping. The struggle we are trying to do collapsed because we have some people who said they are from other parts. When we see that the bring Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the candidate of the Yoruba, then we said what we need is for the Yoruba man to become our President. That is why we stop the struggle although we haven’t rob or do anything with the gun before.”

The statement continued ”The command operatives, acting upon a rip-off, swooped on a gang of suspected cultists in their criminal hideouts along Iworoko road, Ado-Ekiti. During the operation, one Lucky Favour and Lawal Oluwaseun were arrested while others took to their heels.

“It was revealed that the two suspects are members of the supreme Eiye Confraternity preparing for initiation meeting prior to their arrest.

“Effort is on top gear for possible arrest of other fleeing members of the gang.”

Abutu appreciated members of the public for their cooperation by giving timely and useful information that led to some of the achievements, saying all other 16 suspects arrested will also be arraigned accordingly.

He therefore enjoined all Ekiti State citizens to be security conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest Police Station or call 08062335577.