Amotekun Intercepts 16 ‘Fleeing’ Bandits with Charms and Cattle in Ekiti
ADO-EKITI — The Ekiti State Amotekun Corps has successfully intercepted and arrested 16 suspected bandits and cattle rustlers who reportedly infiltrated the state to escape ongoing security onslaughts in neighboring Kwara State.
The Corps apprehended the suspects on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Gede Farm Settlement in Isan-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area, following distress calls from panic-stricken residents.
Confirming the development in a statement on Thursday, the Amotekun Director of Information, Mr. Abiodun Adeleye, revealed that the suspects arrived in the community in large numbers, sparking fear among the locals.
“We Saw Them Migrating”
According to Adeleye, the suspects attempted to set up a camp in the agrarian community without authorization.
“Our operatives at the outpost received intelligence that a strange group of herdsmen had taken over the Gede Farm settlement,” Adeleye stated. “The sight of the large group threw the community into panic. We immediately mobilized reinforcement from the Oye Local Government Command to surround the area and effect the arrest.”
Confessions and Recoveries
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed that they were fleeing Kwara State due to the intense heat from security forces battling banditry in that region. They also admitted to being involved in cattle rustling operations, specifically targeting cattle rearers in Kwara before crossing the border into Ekiti.
The Amotekun Corps recovered several incriminating items from the group, including:
- Seven Tecno mobile phones
- Various traditional charms and amulets
- Three Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Identity Cards
- A large herd of cattle
- Undisclosed cash sums
Handover to Police
The Amotekun Corps has transferred the 16 suspects to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Ekiti State Police Command in Ado-Ekiti for further profiling and prosecution.
Security analysts in the region have praised the arrest as a proactive win, warning that fleeing insurgents from the North Central are increasingly viewing Ekiti as a potential safe haven.