Oyo state Police Command at the weekend said 207 armed robbery suspects were arrested while 96 motorcycles/tricycles were recovered from January to date in the state.
Also, the command hinted that 108 firearms and 721 rounds of various calibres of ammunition were retrieved from the possession of criminals during the same period.
Oyo state Police Public Relation Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso made this known while briefing journalists on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat.
He stated that the suspects were picked up at their various hideouts sequel to credible intelligence received at the state command.
” Within January 1st to this day, Two hundred and seven (207) armed robbery suspects were arrested, Fifty (50) stolen vehicles and Forty-six (46) Motorcycles/ tricycles were recovered while One hundred and eight (108) Firearms and Seven hundred and twenty-one (721) rounds of various caliber of ammunition were retrieved from the possession of criminals.” he said.
SP Osifeso stressed that 38 suspects paraded at the briefing were allegedly involved in various degrees of criminal activities at various locations few days to new year.
He maintained that the suspects were allegedly involved in criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and land grabbing, and that items recovered from them included six cars, English (pump action and revolver rifles, locally made guns, six mobile phones, one power generator, two motorcycles, nine firearms, 60 ammunition, local charms, and three cutlasses.
Assuring residents to go about their lawful duties and also enjoy the Yuletide season without tolerating any form of fear, SP Osifeso said, “as we gradually bid 2023 farewell, the CP has ordered that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department/formations and Tactical Commanders deploy adequate personnel and resources throughout the length and breadth of Oyo State particularly at all critical infrastructures, recreational facilities, Media Houses, Banks, Correctional centers, Public Spaces, Places of Worship and all adjoining highways and routes within and outside Oyo State.
“Similarly, the CP has directed that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders should increase layers of supervision around their subordinates particularly men on the field who daily interfaces with commuters and other civilian population while the Command’s Monitoring and X-squad units have been tasked to deal decisively with any officer whose actions or inactions bring about embarrassment to the Command and by extension the Police Force through extortion, incivilities and other professional misconducts.”
