Fresh details have emerged surrounding the abduction of school pupils and the killing of two teachers alongside an okada rider in Ahoro-Esiele, located in Oriire Local Government Area, as investigators uncovered alleged telephone communication between suspected informants and the kidnappers.
The Oyo State Police Command revealed that security operatives were able to trace some of the suspects through phone conversations believed to have taken place with the bandits before and after the attack.
Investigators discovered that the conversations allegedly included discussions about routes within the National Park and directions to hidden locations reportedly used by the criminals as safe hideouts.
The development reportedly led to the arrest of at least six suspects, who are currently being held in custody while assisting security agencies with ongoing investigations into the deadly incident.
Confirming the arrests on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated security operations carried out across different parts of Oyo State.
Ayanlade explained that preliminary investigations suggested that some of the suspects allegedly acted as informants for the kidnappers responsible for the abduction and killings.
He stated that investigators were analysing the phone conversations linked to the suspects as part of efforts to uncover the wider network behind the attack. According to him, some of the discussions allegedly focused on how the abductors could move through the National Park without being detected and eventually reach their hideouts.
The police spokesman further disclosed that the operation which led to the arrests involved several security agencies working together. These included the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Agro Rangers.
He added that the arrests were made possible through intelligence driven operations aimed at dismantling the criminal network connected to the attack.
Ayanlade assured residents that efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate, stressing that security agencies remain committed to ensuring that everyone linked to the crime is arrested and prosecuted.
The tragic incident, which occurred last Friday, claimed the lives of two teachers and an okada rider while several school pupils were abducted. The attack has continued to raise tension and concern among residents of the affected communities and neighbouring areas in Oyo State.
