Residents of Ifo and neighbouring communities in Ogun State have expressed relief and jubilation following the arrest of a suspected leader of an armed robbery syndicate that has been terrorising the area.
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, acting on technical intelligence, arrested the suspect, 32-year-old Lekan Annuoluwapo, and his alleged female accomplice, 33-year-old Ajoke Kareem, around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday in the Oloshe area of Ifo.
Two recent robbery incidents have been linked to the syndicate. On October 17, two armed men allegedly attacked a woman preparing for morning prayers at a church and stole her handbag. One of the suspects, Wale Adeleye, was earlier arrested and confessed to carrying out the operation with Annuoluwapo using a locally made pistol.
Another incident occurred on October 25, when a resident was attacked at gunpoint and dispossessed of valuables including a phone, power bank and POS machine. The victim, who was shot in the chest after sounding an alarm, later identified Annuoluwapo as one of the attackers.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly named one Akpomoka Gabriel, also known as “Akuru,” aged 36, as his accomplice. Police apprehended Gabriel shortly after, a development that triggered celebrations in the Ijoko and Ogba-Iyo communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, commended officers for their swift action and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.
He also ordered the Area Commanders in Sango-Ota and Ifo to intensify security patrols across identified hotspots throughout the Ember Months to prevent similar crimes.
The command reiterated its commitment to mopping up illegal firearms and dismantling criminal networks across Ogun State.