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Armed robbery: Police kill one, arrest two, recover N2m in Ogbomoso

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Police rescue four kidnap victims in Imo



The Oyo State Police Command on Thursday paraded two armed robbery suspects in connection with a robbery operation at Amama area of Ogbomoso around 11:30 pm on February 29.

Also paraded were 42 other suspects, including a fake soldier who allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl at a hideout in Ibadan.

Briefing journalists on the arrests made by the men of the Command since the beginning of the year, the Commissioner of Police, Olushina Olukolu, said the gang was arrested in Ogbomoso in a crossfire.

The suspects are Ismaila Salami, 26, and Femi Ojelola 33. According to the CP, they were arrested following a distress call received by SARS operatives, Dugbe Ibadan.

Olukolu said,

“The hoodlums, having successfully gained access to the Omilana family, launched an attack on the household and dispossessed the owner of the house of his Toyota Camry car; cell phones, and the sum of N2.1million at gunpoint.”

He said the hoodlums engaged his men in a gun duel. In the process, two of the men of the underworld, Ismaila Salami and Femi Ojelola, were arrested, while a member of the gang, Olanrewaju Adeshina, who sustained bullet wounds, was rushed to Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso where he later gave up the ghost.”

Salami confessed to the crime saying,

“We were coming from Omilana’s shop to pick up our gang members from his house because the man could not give us the amount that we demanded from him unless we followed him to shop. We agreed and we left two of our members in his house. We collected the money.

“The SARS operatives intercepted us and one of us, now late Adeshina opened fire on them. In the process, he was shot. While three out of us escaped, I was arrested alongside Femi.”

In another development, a 29-year-old man, Sodiq Abiodun, was arrested for rape and impersonation. Also arrested was his accomplice, 31-year-old Lekan Adesokan.

Abiodun, who claimed to be a soldier, with his friend, was alleged of raping a 17-Year-old girl namely, Alimot Ismail.

According to the CP, at about 8:30 am, on Wednesday, February 19, Ismail was accosted at a desolate spot at Modina, Orita Aperin area, Ibadan by a suspect who claimed to be a soldier.

He said,

“The hoodlum attacked the said Ismail Alimot and dispossessed her of her cell phone and abducted her to a hide-out at Papa Eleye, Olomi area, Ibadan where the syndicate’s member was waiting for him. The victim was held hostage and was later raped serially until the next day.

“As soon as the incident was reported at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad office, a team of SARS operatives swung into action and two hoodlums, who later identified themselves as Sodiq Abiodun and Lekan Adesokan, were arrested in connection with the crime.”

A set of Nigerian Army camouflage uniform was recovered from the suspect. The police investigation shows that Abiodun usually wore the army uniform anytime he wanted to go on operation.

When interviewed, Abiodun, father of one, said his ambition was to join the Nigerian army but fate did not smile on him.

Although he is a carpenter, Abiodun said he took to impersonation for survival because of hardship.

“I am a carpenter but people know me in my area as a military man. I love the profession. Since 2007, I kept applying to join the Nigerian Army but I didn’t make it. For one reason or the others, they usually disqualify me. I love the job, so I got an army uniform and started wearing it around. I traveled around with the uniform. People gave money because they knew me as a soldier.

“This is the first time I would involve in rape. I wooed the girl and took her to my friend’s house. The act was committed in the process.”

His accomplice said, “I knew him as an army officer in the community where I live. Many people thought he is a soldier. He was loved and respected. He was always traveling; he would travel for a long time and people would believe that he went on official duty. He brought the girl to my house.”

Olukolu said, “I recall my assurances at the beginning of the year to the people of Oyo State of our preparedness to carry out our constitutional responsibilities. We have redoubled our efforts and reviewed the security architecture. Logistic support from the state government paid off with the harvest of suspected criminals arrested and being paraded today.”

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