Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspected political thugs in Ikun‑Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area, in a dramatic pre‑emptive operation just hours before the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the House of Representatives scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026. The arrests followed credible intelligence received by the command on Thursday, May 14, at about 9:00 p.m., which indicated that a group of armed hoodlums was sighted inside Onikoyi Hotel, Ikun‑Ekiti, allegedly planning to disrupt the electoral process and unleash violence on opponents.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, the Commissioner of Police, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, ordered an immediate crackdown. Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) swiftly cordoned off the hotel and arrested seven suspects. They were identified as Adekunle Stephen, Adepoju Adebayo, Boluwaji Ishola, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel, Adewale Makanjuola, and Ibitola Babatope. Several others managed to escape in three vehicles, but the police gave chase and later intercepted an unregistered Toyota Sienna bus carrying four fleeing suspects: Abanikanda Sikiru, Dayo Ibijowo, Ajayi Dele, and Adegbite Damola. In total, 11 suspects were taken into custody.
Items recovered from the hotel and the intercepted vehicle were substantial and deeply incriminating. The police seized two pump‑action guns, one Beretta pistol, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, four live cartridges, and substances suspected to be criminal charms. In addition, two Apple laptops and a Honda Accord car were also recovered. The presence of laptops alongside firearms and charms suggests that the gang was not only armed for physical violence but also possibly preparing to engage in digital manipulation, electoral fraud, or document forgery ahead of the primary.
The Commissioner of Police, while parading the suspects before journalists, warned that the command would not tolerate any form of thuggery, violence, or electoral malpractice. He reiterated that the police were committed to ensuring a peaceful, free, and fair primary election in the state. The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations. The Ekiti State Command has also deployed additional personnel to flashpoints across the state to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The arrest of the 11 suspects comes amid heightened political tension in Ekiti State, where the APC is conducting primaries to elect its candidate for the House of Representatives seat. Political observers have noted that the state has a history of pre‑election violence, often fueled by intense rivalry among aspirants. The recovery of firearms and laptops raises concerns that the gang may have planned not only to intimidate voters but also to hack into electoral systems or manipulate results. The presence of charms points to a lingering belief in spiritual protection among some political actors, a phenomenon that has been documented in previous elections across Nigeria.
The Ekiti State Government has praised the police for their proactive approach. In a statement, the state’s Commissioner for Information expressed confidence that the arrests would serve as a deterrent to other troublemakers. The APC leadership in Ekiti State also issued a statement dissociating the party from the suspects, describing them as “criminal elements” who do not represent the party’s commitment to democratic values.
As the primary election commenced on Friday morning, voters in Ikun‑Ekiti and across the state reported a heavy security presence, with patrols and checkpoints at strategic locations. The police have assured citizens that they will maintain order and that any attempt to disrupt the process would be met with decisive action. Meanwhile, the arrested suspects remain in custody, and the police have called on members of the public to provide any additional information that could aid the investigation.
The recovery of Apple laptops from the suspects is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a modernisation of political thuggery. In previous years, thugs were armed only with machetes and locally made guns. The presence of sophisticated electronics indicates that political violence may now include cyber components, such as hacking into voter registers, spreading disinformation, or coordinating attacks via encrypted messaging apps. The police have not disclosed the contents of the laptops, but forensic analysis is expected to reveal whether the suspects were engaged in digital electoral fraud.
The Ekiti State Police Command has once again demonstrated its capacity for intelligence‑led policing. The swift action, based on a tip‑off received at 9:00 p.m., led to the dismantling of a potentially deadly operation within hours. The arrest of the 11 suspects has been widely applauded by civil society groups, who have called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the culprits. As Ekiti goes to the polls, the hope is that the arrests will ensure a peaceful exercise and that the era of political thuggery may be gradually coming to an end.
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