The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five suspected kidnappers, 24 hours after the killing of two traditional rulers in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Office stated that it could not confirm whether the kidnappers were connected to the killing of the traditional rulers until investigations were concluded.

Police spokesman DSP Sunday Abutu said in a statement that the suspects were arrested in a forest.

“In a bid to flush out criminal elements, especially kidnappers, out of the state, a combined team of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, OPC, and local hunters embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah, and the thick forest around the Iju/Ikere boundary.

“During the operation, five suspected kidnappers—Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleiman Abdulahi—were arrested.

“During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be herdsmen, but it was later discovered that none of them had cattle, and no cattle were found with them in the forest where they were arrested.

“The following items were found with them in the forest: two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife and dagger, and four mobile phones,” he said.