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 in Ibadan.
The suspects, identified as Chigbo Mesoma, 24; Erondu Wisdom, 29; and Okechukwu Emmanuel, 25, were apprehended after what police described as a swift, intelligence-led operation.
Sources within the command said the breakthrough was made possible by timely information provided by members of the public. Acting on the tip-off, operatives tracked the suspects to the Oko area of Ogbomoso, where they were arrested.
The victim, Ezekiel Inije, was reportedly attacked at gunpoint while transporting agricultural produce. The assailants allegedly hijacked a Howo Long truck loaded with 2,000 bags of Karma Agric chicken feed.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, directed the command’s Monitoring Unit to launch an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators. Leveraging human intelligence and technology-driven investigations, officers were able to trace the syndicate within days.
Items recovered from the suspects include the hijacked truck with Lagos registration number AAA 724 YJ, fully loaded with the stolen poultry feed, a cutlass, and an additional Lagos State number plate, LSR 339 XW, believed to have been used to disguise the vehicle’s identity.
Police authorities said the suspects have confessed to their involvement and are assisting investigators in tracking down other members of the gang who remain at large. The syndicate is believed to specialise in highway robbery and the hijacking of goods.
Haruna commended the operatives for their professionalism and swift response, noting that the operation highlights 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 residents that efforts are ongoing to arrest and prosecute the remaining suspects, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state. He also warned that Oyo State will not serve as a safe 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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