The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested eight suspects in separate operations involving alleged cultism, ritual-related activities and theft, recovering a locally made firearm, mobile phones, ATM cards and cash.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, SP Abutu Sunday, saying the arrests were part of its ongoing operations against criminal activities across the state.
The police said three suspected cultists — Emeka Uba, 35; Fatai Adio, 30; and Aanu Omotosho, 28 — were arrested on August 25, 2026, after a gang of about 50 hoodlums allegedly invaded Ijadu community armed with guns, axes and cutlasses.
According to the statement, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad were deployed following credible intelligence and were allegedly engaged in a gun duel by the hoodlums.
Three suspects were arrested during the encounter, while other members of the gang reportedly fled.
Police said they recovered a locally made single-barrel gun, an axe, an expended cartridge shell, suspected criminal charms and alcoholic dry gin.
Preliminary investigation allegedly linked the suspects to a man identified as “Ojo Onile/Ogbongbon,” who police said is currently at large.
In another operation, detectives attached to the Iworoko Police Division, working with the Ekiti State University Security Outfit, arrested three students over an alleged ritual-related video call and threats.
The suspects were identified as Adebayo Taiwo Gabriel, 20; Omojola Ayomide Nelson, 19; and Busari Fawas Ayomide, 20.
Police said the case was reported on August 24 by a 20-year-old student who alleged that he received a video call showing three individuals with traditional ritual objects while allegedly making incantations.
The complainant also alleged that he subsequently received threatening messages and a voice note containing references to a purported sacrifice.
The police said detectives visited the scene and recovered relevant exhibits, adding that the suspects allegedly admitted their involvement but claimed the incident was intended as a prank.
Meanwhile, two suspected members of a stealing syndicate were arrested at the Ekiti State University during the ongoing examinations.
The suspects, identified as Peter Edwards, 21, from Egor Road, Benin City, and Moses Olusoji, 29, from Osun State, were arrested on August 24 within the university premises.
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Five mobile phones, six ATM cards and ₦26,000 were reportedly recovered from them. The recovered phones included Tecno Camon, iPhone 13, Itel, Tecno and Poco Android devices, while the ATM cards belonged to UBA, Moniepoint, Sterling Bank and Access Bank.
The police said the affected students had been identified and the university authorities notified, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged syndicate.
In a separate case, police operatives attached to the Ado Central Division arrested a 21-year-old university student allegedly attempting to sell four stolen iPhones at Fayose Market in Ado-Ekiti.
The suspect, Oluwatobiloba Daniel, a 400-level student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, was arrested on August 27 following intelligence received by the police.
The four iPhones, alongside their receipts, were recovered from him.
Police said the suspect allegedly confessed during preliminary investigation to stealing the phones from a shop in Oye-Ekiti where he worked as a sales assistant.
He also allegedly confessed to stealing three other phones from the same shop and selling them to unidentified persons.
The police said efforts were ongoing to recover the other phones and arrest anyone else connected with the alleged offence.
The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Falade Adegoroye Michael, commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.
He also urged residents, students and members of the academic community to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely information about suspicious persons, movements and activities.
The command said investigations into the cases were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
