The suspects were arrested on Wednesday after security reports raised alarm within communities in Oye Local Government Area of the state.
No fewer than 16 suspected bandits fleeing from Kwara State to Ekiti State have been arrested by the Ekiti State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, Oye Local Government Command, during an intelligence-led operation.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday after security reports raised alarm within communities in Oye Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Thursday by the Director of Information of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps, Mr Adeleye.
According to the statement, the suspects were sighted in large numbers with their cattle around the Gede Farm settlement in Isan-Ekiti.
Community members, alarmed by the unusual movement and presence of the suspected bandits, alerted Amotekun operatives in Oye Local Government.
This prompted the deployment of reinforcements from other Amotekun outposts within the council area to contain the situation.
The statement said the coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of all 16 suspects without any resistance.
The suspects reportedly confessed that they fled Kwara State following intensified security operations and crackdowns on banditry.
They also admitted to involvement in cattle rustling, particularly targeting cattle belonging to residents of Kwara State.
Items recovered from the suspects include an undisclosed sum of money, seven Tecno mobile phones, various charms suspected to be used for criminal activities, three Vigilante Group of Nigeria identity cards, and several herds of cattle.
The Amotekun Corps said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were attempting to establish a new base in Ekiti State after coming under sustained pressure from security agencies in Kwara State.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Rapid Response Squad of the Ekiti State Police Command in Ado-Ekiti for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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