The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old suspect and two 18-year-old accomplices believed to be behind a series of armed robberies in Ibadan and other parts of the state.
In a statement on Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said the trio were apprehended during a proactive stop-and-search operation. They were travelling in an unregistered tricycle (“Keke Maruwa”) when officers recovered a concealed locally fabricated single-barrel gun, modified into a short arm.
The suspects were identified as Abdulrahman Rasheed (19), Biodun Fatai (18), and Muiz Salawudeen (18).
Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, directed the case be transferred to the Command Monitoring Unit for a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to terrorising residents through armed robberies, specialising in snatching mobile phones, motorcycles, and dispossessing people of valuables at gunpoint.
The police statement noted, “The suspects confessed to having been involved in several cases of armed robbery in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State.”
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, crediting the Inspector-General of Police for strategic leadership. The suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court after investigations.
Residents were urged to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities using the state’s emergency toll-free line 615.
