Police Arrest Five Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Pistol, Seven Cartridges in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate allegedly responsible for several violent attacks in Ibadan, recovering a locally made pistol and seven live cartridges.

The suspects, identified as Ijo Lekan, 28; Abdulateef Ishola, 26; Idowu Rasheed, 19; Azeez Olalekan, 23; and Seun Adeniran, 24, were arrested in the Oke Labo area of Ibadan on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, explaining that detectives attached to the Mapo Divisional Headquarters carried out the operation following credible intelligence.

According to the statement, the arrest was made at about 11:16 a.m. after detectives received information about the suspected criminal activities and moved to search a building in the area.

The police said the operation led to the arrest of the five suspects and the recovery of one locally made pistol and seven live cartridges.

Providing details of their alleged activities, the command said the suspects confessed during interrogation to being members of an armed robbery syndicate and participating in several violent attacks and other criminal activities within Ibadan.

The statement read, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of an armed robbery syndicate and admitted to participating in several violent attacks and other criminal activities within Ibadan.”

The police added that the suspects were cooperating with investigators and providing information that could assist in identifying and arresting other members of the syndicate.

“They are currently cooperating with investigators, providing useful information to facilitate the identification and arrest of other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional evidence,” the statement added.

The command, however, disclosed that other suspects allegedly connected to the criminal network remained at large.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has directed a comprehensive investigation into the case to establish the full extent of the suspects’ alleged activities, identify other members of the syndicate and ensure that everyone connected to the crimes is brought to justice.

The police reiterated their commitment to intelligence-led policing and efforts to rid the state of illegal firearms and criminal elements.

The command also urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts to combat crime across the state.