Oyo: Police Arrest Dismissed Army Officers Running Armed Robbery Syndicate In Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two dismissed officers of the Nigerian Army suspected of dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, while falsely parading themselves as senior military officials.

In a Wednesday statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, in its sustained efforts to combat violent crimes and ensure the safety of lives and property across the State.

The statement reads, “This breakthrough followed credible intelligence and an intense manhunt, which culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation carried out within the Ibadan metropolis.

“The suspects were identified as David Okhaie, male, aged 48 years, of Ojoo Area, Ibadan, a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army with Service Number 2005NA/…./…., who falsely paraded himself as an Army Captain, and Balogun Afolabi, male, aged 43 years, of Wakajaiye Area, Ibadan, also a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army with Service Number 2011NA/…./……

“Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspects specialise in dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, thereby instilling fear and disrupting public peace within the State.”

The statement added, “Consequently, a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of the following exhibits from the suspects: one Toyota Camry, black in colour, with registration number KRD 253 KC; one Toyota Corolla, metallic in colour, with registration number JTA 938 AA; one Lexus RX 350, silver in colour, unregistered; and one Super Cargo motorcycle, black in colour, with registration number YRE 487 VD.”

The Command invites members of the public who may have lost their vehicles to armed robbery or theft, and whose vehicle descriptions match any of the recovered exhibits, to come forward to the Oyo State Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible claim of their vehicles.

The statement further revealed that both suspects have confessed to the commission of the crimes and are currently providing useful information to assist ongoing investigations, noting that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate and recover additional stolen properties.

The Command’s Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, has commended the officers and men of the Command Monitoring Unit for their professionalism, diligence, and gallantry in the execution of the operation.

The Command reassures members of the public of its unwavering commitment to the fight against crime and criminality and encourages citizens to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information.