By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command has disclosed that a total of 3,490 suspects were arrested for various crimes across the state in 2025.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Eribo, made the announcement during an end-of-year briefing with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, noting that the arrests resulted from intensified security efforts including patrols, raids on hideouts, and stop-and-search operations.
“All suspects were thoroughly investigated and prosecuted accordingly,” he said, adding that the command’s achievements contributed to the relative peace and improved safety enjoyed by residents of the state.
According to Eribo, crime rates in Ekiti State declined significantly in 2025 compared to 2024. He highlighted the reductions as follows: murder cases fell from 53 to 37; kidnapping from 17 to 7; rape from 41 to 31; cultism cases from 12 to 7; house-breaking from 82 to 65; armed robbery from 18 to 7; defilement from 26 to 24; and attempted murder from 26 to 18.
The Commissioner also announced the promotion of several officers from Superintendent of Police (SP) to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), including CSP Adeniran Akinwumi, CSP Ofanson Vincent, CSP Ogunleye Kehinde, and CSP Falade Sesan Reuben.
Highlighting major breakthroughs, Eribo said suspects Adinoi Samuel (aka Samuel Ebira), Tope Agbaje, and Godwin Anawo were arrested in Ado-Ekiti while allegedly planning attacks on banks in the state capital. Investigations revealed that Adinoi Samuel was involved in armed robbery attacks on First Bank, Ilasa-Ekiti, in 2012, and Wema Bank, Iyin-Ekiti, in 2020. He was also among inmates who escaped during the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre jailbreak on November 30, 2014.
Additionally, a suspected kidnapper, Jeremiah Nwagh, was arrested on November 3, 2025, in Itapaji-Ekiti following credible intelligence. Investigations showed that he acted as an informant to kidnappers and aided the abduction of two workers at YSJ Farms, Oke-Ako-Ekiti, on October 23, 2025.
Eribo assured residents that the command would continue to refine its strategies to stay ahead of criminal elements and expressed optimism that security in 2026 would improve.
“We shall remain proactive through visibility policing, confidence-building patrols, raids on criminal hideouts, and sustained stop-and-search operations,” he said.
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