The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old suspect alongside two teenage accomplices over alleged involvement in a string of armed robbery incidents within the Ibadan metropolis.
The arrest was made during a stop-and-search operation carried out by operatives of the command’s Operations Department.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
According to the police, the suspects were intercepted while riding in an unregistered tricycle, popularly known as Keke Maruwa.
The statement noted that a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a locally made firearm.
“A thorough search of the tricycle led to the recovery of one locally fabricated single-barrel gun, modified into a short arm suitable for concealment.
The immediate apprehension of the occupants was a direct result of the vigilance of the operatives and the effectiveness of the stop-and-search strategy,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as Abdulrahman Rasheed, 19; Biodun Fatai, 18; and Muiz Salawudeen, 18.
Following the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, reportedly ordered that the case be transferred to the Command Monitoring Unit for further investigation.
The police said the trio confessed during interrogation to carrying out several robbery attacks in Ibadan and other parts of the state.
“The suspects confessed to having been involved in several cases of armed robbery in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State.
They further admitted to specialising in the snatching of mobile phones and motorcycles, as well as dispossessing residents of their valuables at gunpoint,” Olayinka added.
The command said the arrest underscored the importance of proactive policing and intelligence-led operations, reiterating its commitment to the protection of lives and property across the state.
It added that the suspects were still in custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the state emergency toll-free line, 615.