Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude has urged residents of the state to always cooperate with the police by giving useful information of the criminal element in the society for effective protection of citizens of the state.
CP Odude made this call during a press briefing at the State Command, Eleyele, Ibadan while parading a nine-man armed robbery gang and a six-man notorious kidnap/armed robbery group nabbed by Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Command.
According to CP Odude, the daredevil armed robbery gang responsible for the spate of armed robberies in Amuloko, Ogbere, Olorunsogo, Oyo and other parts of the state was smashed by the Eagle eyed Federal SARS after they invaded the residence of Chief Samuel Afolabi at Ilora town where they robbed the victim of his valuable property including cash.
“During the robbery operation the armed hoodlums shot and killed a night guard, Dare and escaped afterwards, but due to intensive investigation, coupled with high level intelligence, seven members of the gang were arrested at their various criminal hideouts in Ibadan, and Ifo, Ogun State.
“Three cut-to-size locally made guns and a Volkswagen Gulf car with Reg.No.LSR 185 BR were recovered from the suspects who have confessed to the crime,” CP Odude said.
The suspects are Muideen Odufuwa aka Omuta – gang leader who allegedly pulled the trigger that killed the night guard, Fatai Ojo aka Alausa, Kazeem Adesina aka Stubborn, Samuel Ayeni and Asimiyu Rilwan aka Layemo, the gang’s armourer.
Others are Semiu Adewale, Rotimi Taiwo aka Gbego , an-ex convict who just left Shagamu Prison on 6th May, 2017 and Shina Aina aka Ijebu.
In addition, the Federal SARS of the Command also arrested a kidnap/armed robbery kingpin, Mohammed Abdullahi, in his criminal hideout in Ilesa Baruba, Kwara State.
The CP explained “The notorious kidnap cum armed robbery suspect arrest was made possible following high-level intelligence received from the Command’s strategic partners. Before his arrest, the suspect and other members of his dare-devil armed robbery/kidnap gang had robbed, kidnapped and even maimed several victims in many parts of the state.
“The kingpin, upon his arrest confessed to have led series of robbery and kidnap operations on several occasions within the state. One of the victims of the gang was an Ibadan- based popular oil magnate, the MD/CEO of Bovas Oil and Gas Ltd who was kidnapped in 2016 and an undisclosed ransom collected from her family before being released from captivity.
“The gang also kidnapped and eventually killed another victim, Alhaji Saliu Sale along Ago-Are, Saki after collecting a staggering ransom of six million naira from victim’s relations,” CP Odude added.
The leader of the deadly gang, Abdullahi led operatives to various criminal hideouts in Oyo town and Ogun State where Abubakar, Umoru , Ogun Aremu , Mutairu Mohammed and Tambaya Tukura were arrested.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
