By Adeyinka Adeniran
Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have cracked down on a notorious six-man armed robbery syndicate terrorising Ibadan and its environs, bringing an end to their criminal reign following a painstaking five-week intelligence-driven surveillance operation.
The suspects were flushed out from their criminal hideout in Ibadan during a swift, early-morning tactical strike executed by police operatives at about 4:15 a.m. on Saturday.
The arrested suspects were identified by the police as Yusuf Adeyemi (39) of Esu Awele; Isiaka Kayode (40) of Odinjo; Yusuf Basiru (35) of Oja Oba, behind the Central Mosque; Adewale Lawal (38) and Saheed Lateef (36), both of Orita Aperin; alongside Idowu Olanrewaju (42) of Olohunda, Akanran area, all in Ibadan.
A search conducted by the tactical team immediately after the raid led to the recovery of five firearms, comprising one fabricated English-made pistol, one revolver pistol, one pump-action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun, and one locally made pistol, alongside five live cartridges and four cutlasses.
Addressing the breakthrough in an official statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed that the suspects confessed under interrogation to being members of a organized gang responsible for various violent robberies across the state capital.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a criminal gang responsible for terrorising residents of Ibadan and its environs.
“Their confessions form part of the ongoing investigation aimed at uncovering the full extent of the gang’s criminal activities and identifying any other individuals connected to its operations,” the police spokesperson stated.
He added that the suspects remain in police custody as investigators work to link them to other unsolved robbery cases within the state.
Reacting to the successful bust, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, reaffirmed the Command’s firm resolve to sustain intelligence-led operations to flush out violent criminals and dismantle criminal networks across the state.
While thanking members of the public for their support, the police chief urged residents to continue assisting law enforcement agencies with credible and actionable information, assuring that the Command will work tirelessly to protect lives and property and maintain lasting peace in Oyo State.
