The Ekiti Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced on Monday that it had arrested eight individuals for various alleged criminal offences.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSC Tolulope Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti and made available to journalists on Monday.

The suspects include Folashade Adeniyi, aged 38, Ayomide Oloko, aged 20, Abiodun Owoeye, aged 18, and Timileyin Olorunfemi, aged 24.

Others were Jimoh Fatai, aged 24, Yahaya Muniru, Sunday Agbelusi, aged 28, and Oladimeji Odunayo, aged 26.

According to Mr Afolabi, the state Commandant of the corps, Olatunde Fayemi, said that Mr Adeniyi was using the name of an orphanage home where he works “to amass wealth illegally.”

He stated that the management of the home accused Mr Adeniyi of illegally receiving over N1 million donated by good Samaritans for the upkeep of the inmates.

“Adeniyi was also accused of stealing property from the home, depriving the children of the usage of the donated items and relief materials.

Upon interrogation, it was discovered from her bank statement that she had been doing this for over nine months before nemesis caught up with her,” the statement added.

It further explained that Mr Oloko was also alleged to have defrauded a man of N1 million in Ikere-Ekiti.

It added that Mr Muniru, a scavenger, was alleged to have stolen over N200,000 belonging to a woman in Ado-Ekiti.

Mr Muniru allegedly stole the bag containing the cash when the woman dropped it while attempting to open the entrance door to her compound.

“He was arrested after a hot chase and combing of the nearby bush by the members of the CTU,” the statement added.

It further disclosed that Mr Owoeye was arrested within the Basiri axis of Ado-Ekiti for alleged burglary.

“He was arrested after successfully removing cables and other electric wires from a deserted house.

Owoeye, upon preliminary investigation, confessed to committing the crime,” the statement also added.

The PRO also disclosed that Messrs. Olorunfemi, Odunayo, Agbelusi, and Fatai were arrested for cult-related activities in Agbado-Ekiti.

“They were alleged to have conspired to murder one Anthony Dada in Agbado-Ekiti.

Investigation showed that they are members of a secret cult in the town.

It was discovered during the investigation that they were always in the habit of smoking a substance believed to be cannabis at the back of their victim’s house,” Mr Afolabi stated.

He added that the victim had cautioned and advised them to desist from the act; otherwise, he might be forced to report their activities to the law enforcement agencies if they continued.

“The group later physically assaulted him in his house, using cutlasses, stones, broken bottles, and other sharp objects to beat him into a stupor.

He was later rescued by the people of the town and taken to a hospital, where he was admitted.

Mr Afolabi stated that the suspects would be arraigned at the end of the ongoing investigations by the command.

(NAN)