In a significant crackdown on criminal activities, the Oyo State Police have arrested 41 suspected criminals and recovered a substantial haul of items, including N16 million in cash, various cars, and a cache of firearms and ammunition.
Among those paraded is Mamood Musa Kala, 32, who confessed to the murder of a young boy. Police investigations led to the discovery of the boy’s decomposing body at the crime scene. A search warrant executed at Kala’s residence uncovered a cutlass, a jackknife, a bag containing the victim’s clothes, and nine bags of soybeans. The victim’s Bajaj motorcycle was also found. “Investigation is still in progress,” said CP Sonubi.
Additionally, a sophisticated armed robbery syndicate involved in gun-running and car snatching was dismantled. On July 9, 2024, during an intelligence-based stop-and-search operation in Ibadan, police intercepted a Toyota Corolla. Inside, officers found a sealed bag containing a large cache of new AK-47 rifle ammunition. The car’s occupants, Abdulazeez Ayatulahi, 29, and Abdazeez Ridwan, 27, failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the prohibited items and were promptly arrested.
Interrogations revealed that Ayatulahi and Ridwan were part of a criminal cartel importing firearms from Burkina Faso. This led to the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin, Olugbenga Asake Olusegun, 50, who was apprehended at his hideout in Ibadan. Police recovered N16 million, which Olusegun admitted was intended for purchasing the smuggled ammunition.
The following exhibits were recovered from the suspects: 1,346 pieces of live AK-47 rifle ammunition, one Toyota Corolla, two AK-47 rifles, one K2 rifle, one locally made cut-to-size gun, one Beretta pistol, one LAR rifle, seventeen 7.62 live rounds, two live cartridges, one white Toyota Highlander Jeep, one ash Toyota Highlander Jeep, and the sum of N16 million.
CP Sonubi emphasized that police investigations are ongoing and assured the public that further developments will be communicated as they emerge.
