Police Arrest Two Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Stolen Vehicles in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing fight against violent crime with the arrest of two suspected armed robbers and the recovery of stolen vehicles and a motorcycle within the Ibadan metropolis.

The development was disclosed in a press statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the statement, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, acting on credible intelligence, launched an intensive manhunt that culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The suspects were identified as David Okhaie, 48, of the Ojoo area of Ibadan, and Balogun Afolabi, 43, of Wakajaiye area, Ibadan. Both men are dismissed Corporals of the Nigerian Army who allegedly paraded themselves as serving military personnel. Okhaie was said to have posed as an Army Captain, while both suspects reportedly leveraged their military background to facilitate their criminal activities.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly specialized in dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, instilling fear and disrupting public peace across different parts of the state.

A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a black Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 253 KC, a metallic Toyota Corolla with registration number JTA 938 AA, a silver Lexus RX 350 (unregistered), and a black Super Cargo motorcycle with registration number YRE 487 VD.

Following the recovery, the Command invited members of the public who may have lost their vehicles to armed robbery or theft, and whose vehicle descriptions match the recovered exhibits, to visit the Oyo State Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible reclamation.

DSP Ayanlade Olayinka further disclosed that the suspects have confessed to the crimes and are currently providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending other members of the criminal syndicate and recovering additional stolen properties.

Commending the success of the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, psc (+), praised the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for his visionary leadership, unwavering support, and strong emphasis on intelligence-led policing.

He also lauded the officers and men of the Command Monitoring Unit for their professionalism, diligence, and gallantry.

The Oyo State Police Command reassured residents of its unwavering commitment to combating crime and criminality across the state, while urging members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information.