By Augustine Ehikioya
Fighting crime and criminality in Ogun State, Police officials in the State on Sunday arrested a suspected armed robber, Sodiq Oladele, on his way to armed robbery operation.
Items recovered from him included two locally made pistols, one live cartridge and assorted charms.
Other members of the gang escaped during Sodiq Oladele’s arrest.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Police Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It reads “A 27 years old armed robbery suspect Sodiq Oladele was on Sunday 15th of May, 2022 arrested by operatives of Ogun State Police Command while on his way to carry out robbery operation with other members of his gang.
“The suspect was arrested at Obasanjo Farm Junction in Ota while the DPO Onipanu Division, CSP Bamidele Job and his men were on routine patrol of the area and sighted a motorcycle conveying three male passengers.
“The motorcycle was flagged down but the passengers quickly jumped down and ran to different direction. They were hotly chased by the Policemen and one of them Sodiq Oladele who was in possession of a black bag was apprehended while others escaped.
“On searching the bag, two locally made single barrel pistols, one live cartridge and assorted criminal charms were recovered there in.
On interrogation, the suspect confessed that he and his fleeing colleagues were on their way to carry out robbery operation before they were accosted by Policemen.”
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He also directed that other members of the gang be hunted for and brought to book.