The Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday arrested two suspected armed robbers in Ibadan, the state capital.
The Command Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan.
Ayanlade added that two dismissed Nigerian Army officers, David Okhaie and Balogun Afolabi, were also arrested for falsely parading themselves as an Army Captain.
He explained that the arrest followed credible intelligence and an intense manhunt, which culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation carried out within the Ibadan metropolis.
Ayanlade, therefore, invited members of the public who might have lost their vehicles to armed robbery or theft and whose vehicle descriptions match any of the recovered exhibits, to come to the Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible claim of their vehicles.
The PPRO stressed further that both suspects have confessed to the commission of the crimes and are currently providing useful information to assist ongoing investigations, with a view to apprehending other members of the criminal syndicate and recovering additional stolen properties.
He said, “The Police command wishes to inform the public that, in furtherance of its sustained efforts to combat violent crimes and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit have recorded a significant operational success with the arrest of two notorious armed robbery suspects.
“This breakthrough followed credible intelligence and an intense manhunt, which culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation carried out within the Ibadan metropolis.
“The suspects were identified as David Okhaie, male, aged 48 years, of Ojoo Area, Ibadan, a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army with Service Number 2005NA/…./…., who falsely paraded himself as an Army Captain, and Balogun Afolabi, male, aged 43 years, of Wakajaiye Area, Ibadan, also a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army with Service Number 2011NA/…./……
“Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspects specialise in dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, thereby instilling fear and disrupting public peace within the State.”
He stated, “Consequently, a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of the following exhibits from the suspects: one Toyota Camry, black in colour, with registration number KRD 253 KC; one Toyota Corolla, metallic in colour, with registration number JTA 938 AA; one Lexus RX 350, silver in colour, unregistered; and one Super Cargo motorcycle, black in colour, with registration number YRE 487 VD.
“In view of the above recoveries, the Command hereby invites members of the public who may have lost their vehicles to armed robbery or theft, and whose vehicle descriptions match any of the recovered exhibits, to come forward to the Oyo State Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible claim of their vehicles.”
The Command reassured members of the public of its unwavering commitment to the fight against crime and criminality and encourages citizens to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information.
Recall, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command foiled an armed robbery attempt in the Kado area of Abuja.
The officers arrested one suspect and recovered several exhibits.
