The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on armed robbery, arresting three suspects and recovering goods valued at N31.75 million following a reported highway attack in Ibadan.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo state Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on February 25, 2026.
The operation according to the Police, was triggered by credible intelligence that a businessman, Ezekiel Inije, had been robbed at gunpoint by a five-man gang along the Coca-Cola area of Asejire, Ibadan.
Acting swiftly on information provided by members of the public, police operatives moved in and tracked the suspects to the Oko area of Ogbomoso.
Ayanlade stated that the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, personally directed the Command’s Monitoring Unit to take immediate action upon receiving the Intel report.
He explained that combining human intelligence with technology-driven investigation methods, the team successfully apprehended three members of the syndicate.
The Police Spokesman also said the suspects were identified as Chigbo Mesoma, 24; Erondu Wisdom, 29; and Okechukwu Emmanuel, 25.
Items recovered from the operation according to the police, include a Howo Long vehicle with Lagos registration number AAA 724 YJ, loaded with 2,000 bags of Karma Agric Chicken Feeds valued at N31,750,000.
Also recovered were a cutlass and an additional Lagos State vehicle number plate marked LSR 339 XW.
Police authorities said the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the robbery and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and swift response, the Commissioner also praised residents whose timely and credible information made the arrests possible.
He stressed that community partnership remains a critical factor in combating crime and assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining members of the gang, described as notorious for highway robbery and goods hijacking.
The Command however, reiterated its resolve to ensure that Oyo State does not become a safe haven for criminal elements, pledging sustained operations to safeguard lives and property across the state.
Residents were also urged to continue providing useful information to the police, with assurances that all intelligence shared would be handled with strict confidentiality.