By OPEYEMI GBEMIRO

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

However, the Police 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.

The Police spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, said 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, to the thick forest around 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 have cattle and no cattle was 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/ dagger and four mobile phones. (NAN)