The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers linked to a burglary syndicate operating in Idanre and surrounding communities, recovering a locally made revolver and a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during the operation.
The Command said the arrests followed a complaint lodged on June 15 by a cocoa merchant in Alade-Idanre, who reported that burglars broke into his cocoa store overnight and stole a bag of cocoa valued at ₦1.25 million.
Police investigations and intelligence gathering led detectives to identify the suspects as Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun and Nura Umar, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang who remain at large.
According to the police, further investigation revealed that the alleged gang leader, Alex Omotayo, had earlier invaded Idanre High School on March 13, armed with two firearms, where he reportedly threatened to kill a security guard over an earlier altercation.
Acting on the intelligence, operatives executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence, where they recovered a cut-to-size single-barrel firearm and a locally made revolver concealed within the premises. The recovered weapons have been taken into police custody as exhibits.
The case has been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit in Akure for further investigation and the prosecution of the suspects, while security operatives intensify efforts to track down fleeing accomplices.
Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu urged residents, farmers, traders and business owners to improve security around their homes, farms and warehouses, stressing that safeguarding lives and property requires collective responsibility.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations against armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across Ondo State, while appealing to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
