Oyo Police Arrest Three Suspected Armed Robbers in Ibadan, Recover Firearm

Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Ibadan — The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers in the state capital, as part of its ongoing operations to combat violent crime and enhance security across the metropolis. The arrests followed a proactive stop-and-search exercise conducted by police operatives, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

According to a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, the suspects were seized during the strategic stop-and-search operation after officers became suspicious of an unregistered tricycle — commonly referred to as “Keke Maruwa” — in which the trio were travelling. A locally fabricated single-barrel gun, modified for concealment, was recovered on the scene, leading to their immediate detainment. 

The three young men — described by the police as teenage suspects — are believed to be part of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for a string of armed robbery incidents in Ibadan and surrounding areas. During preliminary questioning by the police Monitoring Unit, the suspects reportedly confessed to involvement in several cases of armed robbery, including the snatching of mobile phones and motorcycles and dispossessing residents of their valuables at gunpoint. 

Oyo State Commissioner of Police Femi Haruna has ordered that the suspects and the recovered weapon be handed over to the command’s Monitoring Unit to ensure a thorough and intelligence-led investigation, with a view to prosecuting them in court once inquiries are completed.

The police urged community members to continue partnering with law enforcement by providing timely and credible information, which remains crucial to sustaining public safety and dismantling criminal networks operating within the state. 

This development forms part of a broader pattern of intensified policing efforts by the Oyo State Command to tackle armed robbery and other serious crimes in the region, reinforcing its commitment to protecting lives and property in Ibadan and beyond. 

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