* Pic 1: The Baby Factory building.
* Pic 2: Journalists interviewing a suspect found at the Baby Factory.
* Pic 3: Some of the recovered cattle.
By Emmanuel Onwusoro, Ado-Ekiti
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
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The Ekiti State Police Command has said it has recently recorded significant operational breakthroughs across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ado-Ekiti. He stated that in order to sustain the peaceful atmosphere currently enjoyed by citizens and residents of the state, the command, under his leadership, has continued to embark on intelligence-led and proactive operations.
According to him, within the period under review, five suspects were arrested for conspiracy and armed robbery; seventeen suspects were arrested for cattle rustling; five suspects were arrested for the illegal operation of a baby factory and child exploitation; one suspect was arrested for stealing; while five suspects were arrested from criminal hideouts during raid operations.
Additionally, 558 rustled cattle, seven stolen vehicles, ten fabricated master keys, three different vehicle plate numbers, large quantities of new clothes, provisions, and other items were recovered.
Breakdown of Achievements by the Police Chief:
Arrest of Notorious Armed Robbers
In the past few weeks, the command received numerous complaints about car snatching and vehicles being stolen from where they were parked. Without delay, the commissioner summoned the heads of the Intelligence Department and Tactical Units, as well as Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and gave them marching orders to arrest the suspects responsible, recover stolen vehicles and valuables, and bring their nefarious activities to an end.
This directive paid off when operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), through thorough investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Uzobo Friday Agomatiro, a member of a four-man gang who, at gunpoint, intercepted a Toyota Corolla driven by its owner along Ekute Street on January 10, 2026. The hoodlums snatched the vehicle and drove it to an unknown location.
During interrogation, Uzobo Friday Agomatiro confessed to the crime and mentioned the names of his fleeing gang members, as well as other criminal activities they had carried out across the state. Three fabricated master keys were found in his possession at the point of arrest.
A further search of his residence led to the recovery of seven additional fabricated master keys, five Wakatek solar light panels, and three different vehicle plate numbers.
Further efforts by RRS operatives led to the arrest of two other gang members, Lawal Kudirat and Agomatiro Dennis, and the recovery of two stolen vehicles.
The suspects led RRS operatives to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) parking area, where one of the stolen Toyota Corolla vehicles was recovered. The operatives also arrested Gbenga Adeola and Adebayo Deji at Ilumoba-Ekiti, who confessed to fabricating twenty-nine (29) master keys for the gang.
Further investigation led operatives to Emure-Ekiti, where another stolen Toyota Corolla was recovered from Ado-Ekiti.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members and recover additional stolen vehicles and valuables.
Arrest of a Notorious Cattle Rustler/Kidnapping Kingpin
On January 21, 2026, based on credible intelligence, the command arrested one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious cattle rustler and kidnapper. Investigations revealed that Abubakar had rustled cattle across Ekiti, Kwara, and Kogi states over the years and had been on the wanted list in all three states.
During interrogation, he confessed to the crime and detailed several occasions when he attacked cattle owners and made away with their livestock. A total of 255 rustled cattle were recovered from him. He will be charged to court after further investigation.
Arrest of Suspected Armed Robber and Serial Burglar
On January 19, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m., Safer Highway operatives, while on routine patrol along the Iworoko/Ado Road, intercepted an ash-coloured Honda Element jeep driven by one Ogekore Tiresimi Tosin.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to burgling several shops in Erijiyan, Ilawe, Aramoko, Ilumoba, Ikole, and Oye-Ekiti, carting away numerous items.
He led police operatives to one of his criminal hideouts in Egbe, Kogi State, where large quantities of new clothes, soft drinks, foodstuffs, and other provisions were recovered. He also led operatives to another hideout in Ilorin, Kwara State, where an unregistered Opel Vectra car and a Nissan bus snatched from their owners were recovered.
Some victims have identified their stolen items. The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
Arrest of Cattle Rustlers
On January 21, 2026, at about 4:30 p.m., the Isan Police Divisional Headquarters received credible intelligence about hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers hiding in a forest.
Operatives arrested sixteen suspected cattle rustlers: Dauda Abdulrahman, Sanusi Abdullahi, Abdulmumini Abdullahi, Ibrahim Adamu, Aladu, Umaru Bala, Idris Abdullahi, Umaru Dairu, Adamu Abubakar, Salisu Abdullahi, Yahuza Abdulrahman, Abdullahi Salisu, Samaila Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abdullahi, and Sanni Muhammadu.
At the point of arrest, 303 cattle suspected to have been rustled were found in their possession, and the suspects could not give a satisfactory account of ownership. Investigations revealed that the earlier-arrested Ibrahim Abubakar was their gang leader. They will be charged to court after investigations.
Illegal Baby Factory and Child Exploitation
On January 24, 2026, at about 8:30 a.m., the command received credible intelligence that a 43-year-old woman, Oluwadare Onyechi, was operating an illegal baby factory with four accomplices behind Inisa Hotel and Suites along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.
Operatives cordoned off the premises and arrested Oluwadare Onyechi and her accomplices: Onuoha Gloria (28), Victoria Linus (25), Ihegbogu Mercy (21), and a heavily pregnant Emmanuel Esther (23).
Six children aged between two and nine years, suspected to be under bondage and exploitation, were rescued. Items recovered included baby delivery materials, dexamethasone tablets, and bottles of Goya oil. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other accomplices.
Theft of MTN Registration Devices
On January 22, 2026, at about 9:00 p.m., an MTN staff member reported the theft of twelve SIM card registration devices valued at ₦13 million from the company’s office at Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti.
Operatives arrested Ayomide Pelumi, who was found with four of the stolen devices. Further investigation led to the arrest of Saliu Ayomide, who confessed to selling the remaining devices to Musa Garuba and Isah Saheed. The receivers were arrested, and eight devices were recovered, two of which were damaged.
Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining devices.
Additionally, the command has intensified intelligence-led operations, stop-and-search duties, visibility patrols, and raids on criminal hideouts across the state, yielding positive results.
On January 26, 2026, operatives of the Safer Highway Unit intercepted and recovered a Toyota Camry suspected to have been stolen. The driver could not provide proof of ownership and is currently under investigation.
“All suspects arrested will be charged to court immediately after investigations,” the commissioner said.
He reiterated that the command would continue its clampdown on criminal elements and urged citizens to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or call 08062335577.
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