Ogun Police Smash Crime Rings, Arrest Six, Recover Pump-Action Rifle, Pistol, Generators, Phones
The Ogun State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities, arresting six suspected criminals and recovering a cache of weapons, stolen generators and mobile phones in separate intelligence-driven operations across Abeokuta, Wasimi and Ibafo.
The operations, carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and Ibafo Division, led to the arrest of Afisu Awesu, Bala Aminu, Moruf Sodiq, popularly known as “Okiki”, Mumuni Amodu alias “Stone”, Abayomi John alias “Ibafo”, and Adeboye Ojesina.
Recovered items included a pump-action rifle, a locally fabricated pistol, two live cartridges, an expended cartridge, five generators and nine Android phones suspected to have been stolen.
In one of the operations, the VCRU dismantled a generator theft syndicate believed to have been operating within Abeokuta and its environs.
Police spokesman, DSP Omolola Babaseyi, in a statement on Tuesday, said operatives acting on intelligence arrested Moruf Sodiq, alias “Okiki”, on May 30.
According to her, the suspect subsequently led detectives to Mumuni Amodu, alias “Stone”, who allegedly received stolen items from the gang.
A search conducted at the premises of the receiver led to the recovery of four Elepaq generators, one Sumec Fireman generator and nine Android phones suspected to have been recently stolen.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Abayomi John, popularly called “Ibafo”, a motorcyclist alleged to have provided logistics support to members of the syndicate during operations.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
In a separate operation on June 12, operatives of the SWAT Unit arrested 58-year-old Adeboye Ojesina over alleged illegal possession of firearms and intimidation of residents in Wasimi and neighbouring communities.
Items recovered from him included a locally made pistol, a pump-action rifle, two live cartridges and one expended cartridge.
Although the suspect initially denied ownership of the weapons, he later claimed that he found the pistol and fired a shot to test its functionality, while alleging that the pump-action rifle was handed over to him by an unidentified individual currently being traced by the police.
Also, operatives attached to Ibafo Division uncovered a vehicle parts theft network following a complaint received from a site at Igbeti Sote Village via Ibafo.
The police arrested Afisu Awesu while allegedly attempting to steal a forklift engine component alongside an accomplice who escaped.
Investigations later revealed that the suspects had earlier stolen forklift tyres from the same location and sold them to Bala Aminu of Kara, Ibafo, who was subsequently arrested as a suspected receiver of stolen property.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism and swift response of officers involved in the operations, reiterating the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and sustained pressure on criminal elements across the state.
He assured residents that proactive measures would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property, while urging members of the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
The suspects, according to the police, will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
