ADO-EKITI, Nigeria — Operatives of the Ekiti State Security Network, Amotekun Corps, have arrested five men described as suspected fleeing bandits in Okemesi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, after residents alerted security officials to their arrival in the community, Nigerian media reported Thursday.
According to Abiodun Adeleye, communications officer for Ekiti Amotekun, the suspects were picked up shortly after they got down from a vehicle that brought them into the area. Adeleye said the arrests followed a credible tip-off from local residents, which allowed operatives to move quickly. Amotekun said a preliminary search and profiling of the suspects led to the recovery of two locally made guns, one axe, one dagger, two dogs, five mobile phones and assorted charms. The corps identified the suspects as Abdulahi, 28; Ibrahim, 25; Adamu, 25; Umar, 31; and Yahaya, 28.
Adeleye said the men claimed they were farmers from Kaduna and Jigawa states, but he added that they were unable to provide convincing proof or a clear explanation for their presence in Ekiti. Tribune’s report said one of the men was identified by officials as the group’s leader, named Suleiman, though that detail was not consistent across all reports, suggesting some uncertainty in the initial identification.
The suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the police in Ekiti West for further investigation, according to Amotekun. As of Thursday night, there was no public statement from the police confirming any formal charges. The arrest comes amid broader security concerns in parts of southwest Nigeria over the movement of armed groups across state lines. Earlier in January 2026, Ekiti Amotekun announced the arrest of 16 suspected bandits or cattle rustlers allegedly trying to enter the state from Kwara, also after community intelligence reports.
Amotekun said the latest arrests underline the role of local intelligence and resident cooperation in detecting suspicious activity early. The corps, under retired Brig.-Gen. Olu Adewa, urged people across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas to keep reporting unfamiliar movements and security threats promptly.
At this stage, the men remain suspects, and the allegations against them have not been tested in court.
