Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers over a deadly attack in Ibadan that claimed the life of a 44-year-old woman and left other victims seriously injured.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspects were arrested after an intelligence-led investigation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, following the August 4 robbery at Wofun Olodo area of Ibadan.
According to the police, the gunmen invaded the home of Alhaji Olatokunbo at about 2:30 a.m., shot and killed his wife, Mrs. Wahab Rukayat, and injured other members of the household before escaping with mobile phones, wristwatches, 400 US dollars and other valuables worth about ₦3.493 million.
The statement said detectives from the Violent Crime Response Unit used intelligence and technology to track the suspects to a hideout in the Sabo area of Ibadan, where they were arrested on October 2.
The suspects were identified as Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28, Okunola Mathew, 24, and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23.
Police also recovered an iPhone 7 Plus stolen from one of the victims during the robbery.
Investigators said the surviving victims later identified the three suspects during an identification parade as members of the gang that carried out the attack.
The police added that the suspects confessed to taking part in the robbery, stealing valuables worth about ₦3.493 million and killing Mrs. Rukayat during the operation. They also allegedly admitted involvement in other robbery attacks around the Wofun Olodo and Akobo areas of Ibadan.
The Commissioner of Police has directed investigators to intensify efforts to arrest other members of the gang who are still on the run and those suspected of helping to dispose of stolen property.
The Oyo State Police Command assured residents that it would continue to use intelligence, technology and community partnership to tackle violent crime across the state. It also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to support crime prevention and investigations.