Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
The Ekiti State Security Network (Amotekun Corps) has arrested five suspected gunmen and recovered firearms, charms and other items during a targeted intelligence-driven security operation in Ekiti State. Security officials confirmed that the suspects were intercepted following credible information supplied by community members, reflecting growing collaboration between residents and local security structures.
According to preliminary reports from the command, the suspects were arrested on February 25, 2026, after being observed arriving at a motor park located along Itawure Road in Ekiti West Local Government Area. Security operatives acting on surveillance intelligence moved swiftly to intercept the group before any violent activity could occur.
Authorities stated that the operation was part of expanded preventive security enforcement efforts designed to disrupt potential criminal operations before they materialize. The suspects were taken into custody without resistance and transported for further interrogation and profiling.
Security investigators identified the arrested individuals as Abdulahi Makana, Shuaba Ibrahim, Adamu Muhammed, Shlibu Umar and Aruna Yahaya. While officials disclosed their names during internal security briefings, the corps noted that full profiling procedures were still underway to determine their backgrounds, possible criminal history and potential network affiliations.
During initial questioning, security sources said the suspects provided inconsistent explanations regarding their presence in Ekiti State. Officers observed that the men allegedly failed to present credible documentation supporting their travel purpose or residence within the region, raising suspicion among investigators.
Operatives reportedly recovered two locally fabricated firearms, an axe, a traditional dagger, five mobile telephones, two dogs and assorted charms during the arrest operation. Security analysts note that combinations of weapons and ritualistic objects are sometimes associated with criminal groups attempting to instill fear, enhance perceived spiritual protection or support coercive intimidation tactics during violent operations.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Ekiti West division of the Nigeria Police Force for comprehensive investigation and possible prosecution. This transfer follows standard enforcement protocol in which regional security corps conduct initial arrests before formal criminal proceedings are managed by federal police authorities.
Spokespersons for the Amotekun Corps emphasised that the operation was triggered by community intelligence reporting suspicious movement of individuals believed to be linked to violent crime networks. The corps reiterated that public cooperation remains essential in preventing criminal attacks, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where rapid response capability is critical.
The commander of the security outfit reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting residents and maintaining public safety across the state. He urged citizens to continue providing timely and credible information about suspicious persons or activities in their environment, stressing that early reporting significantly increases the success rate of preventive policing operations.
The establishment of the Amotekun regional security framework was driven by rising incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery and rural violence across southwestern Nigeria. The outfit functions as a supplementary security structure working alongside federal law enforcement agencies to strengthen community surveillance and response systems.
Security experts have observed that criminal actors sometimes migrate across regional boundaries, complicating enforcement efforts. In this case, preliminary information suggested that the arrested suspects originated from northern parts of Nigeria, although authorities have not officially confirmed whether their movement into Ekiti State was connected to any organised criminal assignment.
The operation has been widely welcomed by residents of Ekiti West, where community members expressed relief that the suspects were intercepted before any reported attack occurred. Local leaders praised the role of community intelligence networks in assisting security agencies to detect potential threats early.
However, security analysts caution that sustained success in crime prevention requires continuous intelligence sharing, improved surveillance technology and stronger coordination between community structures and formal law enforcement institutions.
The recovered exhibits are currently undergoing forensic examination to establish ownership of the firearms, determine whether the weapons have been used in previous criminal incidents and assess possible links to other criminal networks operating within or outside the state.
The Ekiti State government has repeatedly supported the expansion of community-based security architecture as part of its broader public safety strategy. Officials maintain that regional security collaboration is necessary to address evolving criminal tactics involving mobility, rural infiltration and surprise attacks.
Authorities assured residents that investigations will continue with the objective of identifying additional collaborators, tracing possible supply chains for the recovered weapons and ensuring that anyone found complicit faces prosecution under applicable Nigerian criminal statutes.
As security agencies maintain heightened vigilance across Ekiti State, the arrest underscores ongoing efforts to counter violent crime threats within the southwestern region of Nigeria. Officials reiterated that community cooperation remains the cornerstone of effective crime prevention and urged citizens to remain alert and report suspicious activities promptly.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court following completion of investigation procedures and legal review by prosecuting authorities.
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