Osun: Police Arrest Armed Robbery Syndicate, Recover AK-47, Ammunition

The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate and recovered an AK-47 rifle, 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm.

The arrests followed the reported theft of a newly acquired Lexus Jeep from a resident of Ada, Osun State, by armed men on Monday night.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the victim reported the incident to the police, after which the Command’s Anti-Robbery Team began tracking the stolen vehicle using its tracking devices.

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The tracking operation led to the arrest of two suspects, identified as 30-year-old Johnson Friday and 28-year-old Augustine Godwin, at a filling station in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The police said the suspects were arrested while refuelling the stolen Lexus Jeep.

Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects were taking the vehicle to a receiver in Idiroko when they were apprehended.

Information obtained from the two suspects subsequently led police operatives to Esa-Oke in Osun State, where two other alleged members of the gang, Augustine Godday, 18, and Semiu Ogunlowo, 20, were arrested.

Further investigation led officers to Ila-Orangun, where they recovered an AK-47 rifle with 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm.

According to the police, the weapons were concealed inside a sack and kept behind Godwin’s room.

The investigation also led to the arrest of 29-year-old Olamide Afeez, whom the police described as an alleged informant for the robbery gang and a close friend of the complainant.

The Command said efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspected receiver in Idiroko.

The Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, CP Samuel Erale, commended the Anti-Robbery Team for its swift and professional response.

Earle also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police, assuring the public that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.