The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers in Ibadan, recovering several vehicles believed to have been stolen during their operations across the state.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the suspects are dismissed Nigerian Army officers who allegedly posed as serving military personnel to carry out their crimes.
According to the police, the arrests followed credible intelligence and an intense manhunt that culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation within the Ibadan metropolis. The suspects were identified as David Okhaie, 48, of the Ojoo area of Ibadan, and Balogun Afolabi, 43, of Wakajaiye area, both dismissed corporals of the Nigerian Army who allegedly paraded themselves as an Army Captain.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects specialised in dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, thereby instilling fear and disrupting public peace in the state. Ayanlade added that both suspects have confessed to the crimes and are currently providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending other members of the syndicate and recovering additional stolen property.
Items recovered during the operation include a black Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 253 KC, a metallic Toyota Corolla with registration number JTA 938 AA, a silver Lexus RX 350 without registration, and a black Super Cargo motorcycle with registration number YRE 487 VD.
The police spokesperson invited members of the public who may have lost their vehicles to armed robbery or theft, and whose vehicle descriptions match the recovered exhibits, to visit the Oyo State Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible claims.
The Command reassured residents of its commitment to combating crime and urged the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to enhance security across the state.
