Oyo State Police Command has recorded a major success in its ongoing fight against armed robbery, following the arrest of suspected members of a five-man robbery gang operating in Ibadan.
The breakthrough came after credible intelligence revealed that a resident, Ezekiel Inije, was attacked and robbed at gunpoint along the Coca-Cola area of Asejire, in Ibadan.
Acting swiftly on the information provided by members of the public, police operatives launched a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of three suspects connected to the crime as well as the recovery of the stolen items worth over ₦31,750,000.
Confirming the development, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspects were apprehended shortly after the incident, following intensive surveillance and intelligence-led policing.
According to him, upon receiving the intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, has directed the CP Monitoring Unit to swing into immediate action.
“Leveraging human intelligence, technological know-how, and intelligence-driven policing and investigative expertise, the operatives successfully tracked the syndicate to Oko area of Ogbomoso, apprehending three suspects and recovering the stolen items.
The arrested suspects are:Chigbo Mesoma, male, 24 years; Erondu Wisdom, male, 29 years. ; Okechukwu Emmanuel, male, 25 years.
Recovered items include: one Howo Long vehicle with Lagos registration number AAA 724 YJ, loaded with Two Thousand (2,000) bags of Karma Agric Chicken Feeds valued at Thirty-One Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦31,750,000.00).
Other items include one cutlass and 1 additional set of Lagos State vehicle number plate LSR 339 XW.
CP Femi Haruna commended the operatives of the CP Monitoring Unit for their swift response, professionalism, and dedication, which led to this success.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the public whose timely and credible intelligence made this operation possible, stressing that community cooperation remains invaluable in the fight against crime.
The Commissioner, further, directed that no stone should be left unturned in ensuring that the remaining members of the syndicate, notorious for highway robbery and hijacking of goods, are apprehended and prosecuted.
“The arrested suspects are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and have confessed to their involvement in the armed robbery”, he said.
The Oyo State Police Command reassured the public that all efforts are being intensified to rid the State of armed robbery and other criminal activities, affirming that Oyo State will not be a fertile ground for criminals.
Residents are encouraged to continue providing useful information to the Police, with the assurance that all intelligence received will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
“The Command remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and will not relent in its efforts to bring all perpetrators of crime to justice”, he added.