The Oyo State Police Command paraded 41 suspected criminals allegedly terrorizing the state on Friday.
The suspects were paraded for alleged involvement in various criminal activities, including cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching, gun-running, and murder.
Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Sonubi Ayodele, declared war against crime in the state, stating that Oyo has no room for criminals.
Speaking on a murder case, CP Sonubi said, “On 24th February 2024, one Abdul (now deceased) was sent by his master, Rasheed, a businessman, to Sinawu Village in Baruten Local Government area of Kwara State to purchase large quantities of soybeans and cashew nuts and bring them back to Saki town.
“When Abdul arrived, an agro-allied produce merchant, Musa Kale, who was to sell to Abdul, offered him accommodation. Abdul purchased 55 bags of soybeans and 30 tons of cashew nuts through Musa Kale before informing his master that all goods would be moved to Saki once another batch of soybeans worth N2.5 million, which he had already paid for, was supplied.
“However, he was only given produce worth N1 million. When Abdul demanded the outstanding goods or the remaining N1.5 million, Musa Kale and an accomplice, Jamiu, led him to Bukado village under the pretense of collecting the money. They then conspired to strangle and machete him to death.
“Unable to reach Abdul, his master contacted Musa Kale, who denied knowing Abdul’s whereabouts. A ‘missing person’ complaint was filed, leading to an investigation. The principal suspect, Musa Kale, was arrested and confessed to the crime. He led investigators to the crime scene, where Abdul’s decomposing body was recovered. A search warrant executed at Musa Kale’s house revealed a cutlass, a jackknife, the victim’s clothes, nine bags of soybeans, and the victim’s Bajaj motorcycle. Investigation is ongoing.”
Musa Kale, aged 32, confessed to the crime and pleaded for mercy. Recovered exhibits included a long sharp cutlass, a jackknife, nine bags of soybeans, the victim’s clothes, and a Bajaj motorcycle.
Another gang specializing in armed robbery, gun-running, and car snatching was also paraded. Speaking on the case, CP Sonubi said, “On 9th July 2024, around 0800hrs, a team of policemen attached to Agodi Division, during a stop-and-search operation in Ibadan, intercepted a Toyota Corolla. Upon searching the car, a sealed bag containing new AK-47 rifle ammunition was discovered. The occupants, Abdulazeez Ayatulahi, 29, and Abdazeez Ridwan, 27, were unable to explain the ammunition, leading to their arrest and transfer to the Command Monitoring Unit for further investigation.
“The suspects confessed to being members of a gun-running cartel importing firearms from Burkina Faso to Nigeria and supplying them to criminal syndicates. Further investigation led to the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin, Olugbenga Asake Olusegun, 50, in Ibadan. Sixteen million naira, intended for the earlier arrested suspects, was recovered from him.”
Recovered exhibits included 1,346 pieces of live AK-47 rifle ammunition, one Toyota Corolla, and sixteen million naira in cash. Other recovered items from all suspects included two AK-47 rifles, one K2 rifle, one locally made cut-to-size gun, one Beretta pistol, one LAR rifle with breech number 6909358, seventeen 7.62 live ammunitions, two live cartridges, one white Toyota Highlander Jeep, and one ash Toyota Highlander Jeep.
