Kwara Police apprehend 14 suspects for m#rder and armed Robbery

The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Victor Olaiya, has announced the arrest of 14 individuals suspected of committing various crimes within the state. Among the suspects, five were apprehended for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, while the others face charges related to cult activities.

During a press briefing held at the state police headquarters in Ilorin, Olaiya disclosed the names of three robbery suspects involved in the theft of valuables worth N2 million from a female victim in Egbejila, Ilorin. The suspects are identified as Abdulsalam, Nurudeen Saka, and Segun Tata.

The robbery incident was reported on May 9, 2023, by the victim, Opadiran Yetunde, who stated that four armed men had invaded her residence on May 8, 2023. The suspects had forcibly taken her iPhones and jewelry, coerced her into transferring N1.5 million to an account, and fled the scene in her white Toyota Corolla car valued at N6.672 million.

An investigation into the case led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle in Badagry, Lagos State, and the subsequent arrest of the three suspects. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime and implicated Biodun Abolade Ojo, ‘aka Abbey,’ Ibikunle Shola, ‘aka Showboy,’ and Morufu Oyekanmi, who remain at large.

The police’s efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects had been unsuccessful until October 15, 2023, when vigilant police officers on a stop-and-search operation on the Eiyekonrin/Ogbomoso highway intercepted Biodun Abolade and his accomplices in a commercial vehicle. A search revealed two battle axes in their possession.

Following intensive questioning, the three suspects admitted to being part of a syndicate originating from Ibadan and Osun State, responsible for a series of robberies, including the one involving Opadiran, vehicle thefts, and other criminal activities in and around Ilorin.

In addition to the robbery suspects, two other notorious armed robbery suspects, Jamiu Idowu Aje, ‘aka Ijoba,’ and Shittu Sheriff, ‘aka Abule,’ were arrested with a cut-to-size English-made double barrel gun, one expended cartridge, and an unregistered blue-colored Jincheng motorcycle.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to participating in several robbery operations, including a fatal incident that occurred on September 26, 2023, in Isale-Koto, Ilorin, where one Afeez Babatunde lost his life. The gang was also responsible for k#lling two rival cultists, Gafar and Tunde, in the Gambari area of Ilorin.

Additionally, three suspected cultists, Ahmed Umar, ‘alias Hollybea,’ Tunde Olarewaju Usman, and Kudus Ajao Okin, were apprehended by police operatives from the ‘D’ Police Division, Adewole, Ilorin. Tunde Olarewaju confessed to being a member of the Aiye confraternity and admitted to his involvement in the k#llings of three members of the Eiye cult group in various locations within Ilorin.