Ekiti State Amotekun Corps arrest Musa Abdulai, alleged food supplier to bandits hiding in forest reserves, unraveling a critical link in the fight against crime.
The breakthrough in Ekiti State’s ongoing fight against banditry, the state’s Amotekun Corps recently arrested 35-year-old Musa Abdulai, a man suspected of aiding and abetting bandits by supplying them with food items. The arrest, which took place on Monday, 7th October 2024, has sparked concerns about the growing connection between local suppliers and the armed groups terrorizing communities.
Abdulai, originally from Sokoto State but residing in Shasha, Akure, Ondo State, was apprehended during a routine patrol at the Oritan Forest Reserve in Ise/Orun by operatives of the lse-Ekiti Local Government Command.
According to the statement issued by Officer Adeleye Abiodun, the Head of the Communications Department of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps, Abdulai’s activities had been under investigation for some time before his arrest.
“Musa Abdulai was caught red-handed with a sack of food items, which he admitted was meant for suspected Fulani/Bororo bandits operating in the Oritan Forest Reserve. His arrest is a major step in our efforts to dismantle the supply chain of these criminal elements,” Adeleye said.
Abdulai’s confession, as revealed by the Amotekun Corps, has provided critical intelligence on how the bandits are able to remain hidden and supplied in the dense forests that span parts of Ekiti and neighboring states. “He confessed that he had been making regular trips to supply food to the bandits, who remain elusive in their hideouts. This arrest will help us track down their location and disrupt their operations,” Adeleye continued.
Exhibits recovered from the scene included a sack of foodstuffs, which the suspect admitted was intended for the bandits. His movements through the forest reserve had raised suspicions among locals, who reported seeing unfamiliar individuals traversing the area frequently.
Upon interrogation, Abdulai revealed that his role was limited to supplying food and he denied involvement in any direct criminal activities. However, authorities believe that such supply chains are crucial to the survival of these groups, and Abdulai’s arrest is expected to yield more information that could help curtail bandit activities in Ekiti State.
The presence of bandits in the southwestern state of Ekiti has raised serious questions about security in the region. Historically, banditry has been associated with northern Nigeria, where Fulani herdsmen and criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on local communities.
However, the spread of these activities to the southwestern part of the country has caused alarm. Many experts believe that this development signifies the widening reach of these criminal elements, who may be exploiting the region’s dense forests and its proximity to other states as operational bases.
In light of this arrest, the Amotekun Officers has vowed to intensify its efforts to patrol forest reserves and other potential hiding spots for criminal gangs. Officer Adeleye emphasized the importance of community involvement in the fight against crime. “We urge the public to continue providing us with useful information, as this will help us identify and apprehend individuals who are collaborating with these criminals. Our operations will remain relentless until we rid the state of these elements,” he said.
Public reaction to the arrest has been mixed, with some praising the Amotekun Corps for their swift action, while others express concerns over how deeply entrenched these networks of support for bandits may be.
The arrest of someone from a different state like Abdulai has fueled speculations that the bandits may have broader support networks than previously thought, raising concerns about the ability of local security forces to tackle this issue alone.
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