Police foil robbery attempt on Ogbomoso–Ilorin Expressway, arrest suspect

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, working with local vigilantes, have foiled a highway robbery attempt along the Ogbomoso–Ilorin Expressway and arrested a suspected armed robber while recovering a tanker loaded with diesel.

Police said the operation followed a swift response by a joint patrol team that encountered a gang of robbers who had blocked the highway at Egbeda Village near Ogbomoso in an attempt to rob motorists and travellers.

According to the command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, the attackers had earlier stopped a diesel-laden tanker driven by Surajudeen Sulaiman and dispossessed the driver and his motor boys of their belongings.

The situation escalated into a gun duel when the suspects attempted to escape after sighting the patrol team. During the exchange, a 32-year-old suspect identified as Dere Yahaya was arrested, while other members of the gang fled into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.

Police and vigilantes immediately launched a bush-combing operation and manhunt to track down the fleeing suspects and recover any stolen items.

“The operation demonstrates the command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety and protecting lives and property along major highways in Oyo State,” Ayanlade said.

The Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, commended the operatives and their local security partners for their swift response, noting that collaboration between security agencies and community-based groups remains crucial in tackling highway crime.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, assuring that the command would sustain operations aimed at rooting out criminal elements across the state.

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