The Ondo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of an interstate armed robbery syndicate and recovered an AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol and other dangerous weapons in separate operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Akure, where he highlighted recent security breakthroughs recorded by the command since assuming office as the 47th Commissioner of Police in the state.
Ohagwu attributed the successes to intelligence-led policing, proactive crime-fighting strategies and the commitment of officers and men of the command. He also commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for supporting security operations in the state and acknowledged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his leadership and operational guidance.
Speaking on the first operation, the police commissioner said three suspected members of a notorious interstate armed robbery syndicate identified as Promise Daniel, 34, Ifeanyi Umahi, 29, and Adaramoye Abayomi, 37, were arrested on July 18 during an intelligence-driven operation.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended in connection with an armed robbery case reported on June 14 at the Iju Police Division in Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area.
He explained that the suspects were intercepted while travelling in an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Sports Utility Vehicle following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
Ohagwu said a search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition, an English-made Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of live ammunition, one UTC axe and an iron cutter.
He added that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for a series of violent robberies in Ondo and Lagos states.
The commissioner said the suspects had made useful confessional statements, adding that information obtained from them was assisting investigators in tracking other fleeing members of the syndicate and uncovering the full scope of their criminal activities.
In another development, the police command said it prevented what could have resulted in a deadly clash over a disputed farmland in Kajola, Ore axis of the state.
Ohagwu said seven suspects were arrested after violence broke out on July 18 at a farmland in Adegbiji, via Kajola, over a land dispute involving Akinsulu Titus and Ajani Abiodun, both from Ayetoro community.
He said findings indicated that both parties, whose land dispute is pending before a High Court sitting in Ore, arrived at the disputed farmland with supporters, including commercial motorcyclists and three individuals alleged to be soldiers who are currently on the run.
According to him, the confrontation reportedly began over allegations of destruction of palm trees and other economic crops before degenerating into violence, during which both principal parties sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The police commissioner said operatives swiftly intervened, restored normalcy and recovered a yellow bag abandoned at the scene.
Items recovered, according to him, included two locally made guns, two cutlasses, a bag containing suspected charms, a rubber container containing a substance labelled "Acid" and other dangerous weapons.
He disclosed that the case had been transferred to the Command Surveillance Squad in Akure for further investigation, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
Ohagwu warned individuals involved in civil disputes, particularly matters already before competent courts, against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.
He assured residents that the command would continue to protect lives and property through intelligence-driven policing and urged members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information capable of preventing crime and facilitating the arrest of criminal elements.
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