The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a five-man armed robbery gang and recovered goods valued at N31,750,000 following a highway attack along the Coca-Cola area of Asejire, Ibadan.
The suspects were identified as Chigbo Mesoma, 24; Erondu Wisdom, 29; and Okechukwu Emmanuel, 25.
Police sources said the breakthrough followed timely intelligence from members of the public, which enabled operatives to track the suspects to the Oko area of Ogbomoso, where they were apprehended.
The victim, Ezekiel Inije, was reportedly robbed at gunpoint while transporting agricultural products. The assailants allegedly hijacked a Howo Long truck loaded with 2,000 bags of Karma Agric chicken feed.
Acting on the information, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, directed the command’s Monitoring Unit to commence an immediate operation.
Leveraging human intelligence and technology-driven investigations, operatives tracked down the syndicate within days of the incident.
Recovered items include the hijacked truck with Lagos registration number AAA 724 YJ, fully loaded with the stolen poultry feeds, a cutlass and an additional Lagos State number plate, LSR 339 XW, suspected to have been used to conceal the vehicle’s identity.
Police authorities said the suspects had confessed to their involvement and were assisting investigators in apprehending other fleeing members of the gang.
The syndicate is believed to specialise in highway robbery and hijacking of goods.
Haruna commended the operatives for what he described as professionalism and swift response, noting that the success underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing.
“The support of the public was instrumental to this breakthrough. We encourage residents to continue to volunteer credible information, which will always be treated with utmost confidentiality,” he said.
He assured that efforts were ongoing to arrest and prosecute the remaining suspects.
The command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, warning that Oyo would not serve as a haven for criminal elements.
Residents were urged to report suspicious activities through the state’s emergency response channels.
The suspects are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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