Fresh details have emerged regarding the abduction of school pupils and the killing of two teachers and a commercial motorcyclist in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as investigators uncovered alleged telephone communications between suspected informants and the abductors.

The Oyo State Police Command disclosed that investigators traced several suspects through phone calls reportedly exchanged with the bandits before, during, and after the attack.

According to the police, the conversations allegedly contained information on routes within the National Park and directions to locations believed to have been used as hideouts by the criminals.

The development led to the arrest of six suspects, who are currently in police custody and assisting security agencies with ongoing investigations into the incident.

Confirming the arrests on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspects were apprehended during coordinated security operations conducted across various locations in Oyo State.

“We have six suspects in custody and they are assisting the investigation,” Ayanlade said.

He explained that preliminary findings indicated that some of the suspects allegedly acted as informants to the bandits responsible for the abduction and killings.

“Our findings showed that some of the suspects were in contact with the abductors through telephone conversations, and investigators are analysing those communications as part of efforts to uncover the full network behind the crime,” he stated.

Ayanlade further revealed that investigators uncovered discussions allegedly focused on routes through the National Park and locations believed to have served as safe havens for the abductors.

“The conversations contained information on how the abductors could move through the National Park undetected and reach safe locations,” he added.

The police spokesperson noted that the arrests were made during joint intelligence-driven operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Agro-Rangers.

“The arrests were made possible through intelligence-driven operations carried out by joint security operatives working collaboratively to dismantle the criminal network,” Ayanlade said.

He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate linked to the attack.

“We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this criminal act is identified, arrested, and brought to justice. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

The incident, which occurred last Friday, claimed the lives of two teachers and a commercial motorcyclist, while several school pupils were abducted, sparking concern among residents of the affected communities and neighbouring areas in Oyo State.