By Dada Ahmed.
The Police Command in Kwara State has arrested eight suspects linked to armed robbery, homicide and other violent crimes, following what it described as a “coordinated, intelligence-driven offensive” against criminal gangs across the state. The operation also led to the recovery of two Lexus vehicles and several stolen items.
Addressing journalists on Friday at the Command Headquarters in Ilorin, the Commissioner of Police, CP.Adekimi Ojo, said one of the major breakthroughs was the arrest of 52-year-old Olatunji Samson, alleged leader of a violent robbery gang that struck at Mai Gida Estate, Amoyo, on November 21.
According to him, a distress call was received around 9 p.m. on the day of the incident, reporting a brutal home invasion in which the victim and his private security guard were tied up and beaten.
The robbers carted away a Lexus RS 350, $10,000, ₦2.95 million, mobile phones, gold jewellery and clothing,he added.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, our operatives tracked the suspects to Ibadan, Oyo State, where they attempted to sell the stolen Lexus RS 350 for ₦15 million,” the CP, adding that the arrested suspect confessed to previously stealing vehicles for the same criminal syndicate.
The CP noted that two Lexus vehicles were recovered, while a manhunt is ongoing for the remaining gang members currently at large.
CP Ojo also confirmed the arrest of several others linked to homicide, robbery and rape cases in Ilorin and Offa.
He highlighted the arrest of 26-year-old Yusuf Ibrahim, a former hotel worker, over the murder of 28-year-old hotel staffer, Opeyemi Bello, whose body was found in her room on November 16.
“Investigations revealed that the suspect scaled the hotel fence at night to steal. When the deceased saw him, he strangled her with a bedspread,” the CP said, noting that the suspect had confessed and would be charged to court.
In another case, the police arrested Ibrahim Abubakar and Dele Emmanuel after tracing a stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max used in a violent attack on a woman in the Basin area of Ilorin. The victim’s Toyota Camry was also recovered.
The CP further disclosed the arrest of four others, Umar Adamu, Aliyu Umar, Lukman Idris and Kazeem Ahmed, believed to be behind coordinated robberies targeting students in Offa. Several smartphones and electronic devices were recovered.
CP Ojo reiterated that journalists remain crucial partners in strengthening public safety, assuring residents that the Command will sustain its heightened surveillance and ongoing offensive until “all criminal elements are completely dismantled,” reaffirming commitment to a safer Kwara.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
