Ekiti State Police command yesterday disclosed that a local hunter has been arrested over the robbery incident that claimed the life of a commercial driver, Mr Femi Philips in Aramoko-Ekiti on Wednesday.
The disclosure came amidst a report that another 14-passenger bus, heading to Lagos was robbed by yet to be identified armed robbers at the same axis on Wednesday evening.
Nobody was reportedly killed in the second robbery operation.
Philips was shot in the chest by the masked men while on a moderate speed, while his 18-seater bus swerved into the bush where the occupants sustained severe bodily injuries.
The incident which happened less than a kilometer to two check-points provoked youths and commercial drivers that became violent and attacked the Police Station. The rampaging protesters also did not spare the Divisional Police Officer in Ekiti West Local Government, Mr Anthony Okpalaeke, as he was beaten and his uniform torn to shreds over what they described as an alleged police complicity in the robbery.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Alberto Adeyemi said that the man who claimed to be hunter is now being detained at the police headquarters in the State capital.
Adeyemi said the suspect was arrested at about 4am on Thursday within the vicinity where the robbery incident had happened.
“We have arrested a man in connection with the robbery. Our men arrested him around 4am.
“The suspect claimed that he is a hunter but we wonder what manner of animals he wanted to kill at that time of the day, even baring in mind that robbery took place there recently”.
Adeyemi added that the police have begun investigations into the rampancy of robbery in Aramoko axis in recent time. He called on members of the public to collaborate with the police by providing useful information.
The PPRO expressed confidence that those behind the robbery attacks recorded in the state in recent time would soon be nabbed.
