Police Arrest 87 Year-Old Arms Supplier To Armed Robbers, 99 Others

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State Police Command has announced the arrest of 100 suspects in the month of August linked with various crimes.

The suspects are linked with crimes ranging from kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, cultism, unlawful possession of substances suspected to be hard drugs,  fraud/obtaining under false pretense, theft / stealing, receiving stolen property and vandalization.

Briefing Journalists in Akure on Friday, the State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, stated that the Ondo State Police Command has continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and professionalism in safeguarding the lives and property of our citizens.

Among those arrested is a suspected fraudster who orchestrated a ₦10 million scam in the Oloko area of Akure.

According to the Commissioner,  “The suspect, with a deceptive scheme, lured his unsuspecting victim under the pretense of selling scrap materials.

“Believing the transaction to be genuine, the victim paid the sum of ₦10million, only to later discover that the deal was fraudulent and the so-called scrap materials non-existent.

“Following a detailed investigation, the Command’s operatives tracked down the suspect and secured his arrest. During interrogation, he confessed to committing the crime and further revealed that he acted in concert with an accomplice who is based in Lagos.

“In a swift response, the Command has already taken proactive steps to freeze the illicitly obtained funds, thereby preventing further dissipation of the victim’s hard-earned money.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the Lagos-based accomplice and bring all those connected with the crime to justice.”

Also being held is an 87 years old Chief Kogbona, an alleged arms supplier to a gang of robbers from whom ten live cartridges were recovered.

“Operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS) cracked a chilling case of armed robbery and murder in Ondo town. A young motorcyclist, Nwike Sabbat (25yrs), was brutally killed and his motorcycle snatched.

“Swift police action led to the arrest of three suspects—Adeife Adewumi ‘M’, Matthew Johnson ‘M’, and Diisu Sunday ‘M’—who all confessed to the crime. Recovered exhibits include two cut-to-size barrel guns, one live cartridge, and one expended cartridge.”

Lawal also disclosed that officers of the Command have clamped down on vehicles without registration numbers and those using fake plate numbers.

“The Command recently launched a special operation targeting the illegal possession and use of vehicles and motorcycles in the commission of crimes.

“This proactive measure has yielded commendable results. So far, the following recoveries have been made:

Five cars whose chassis/VIN numbers had been tampered with; One vehicle bearing a fake/unauthorized NANS plate number; One  stolen spy police number plate, previously used in conveying illicit drugs and One official government plate number, illegally used for transporting contraband.

Others are “Six  unregistered vehicles; several other vehicles without valid registration or proper documentation.

This operation has dealt a heavy blow to criminal elements who rely on stolen or unauthorized vehicles to perpetrate crimes.”