Police arrest four over alleged armed robbery, recover illegal firearms in Ondo
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate allegedly involved in burglary operations in Idanre Local Government Area, leading to the recovery of two illegal firearms.
The command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, who identified the suspects as Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun and Nura Umar.
Jimoh said the arrests followed an intensive investigation into a burglary reported at Alade-Idanre, where a cocoa merchant allegedly lost a bag of cocoa worth about N1.25 million.
According to him, the case began after a resident of Alade-Idanre reported at the Alade/Atosin Police Station on June 15, 2026, that unidentified persons had broken into his cocoa store overnight and stolen the produce.
The police spokesman said detectives launched an intelligence-driven investigation, which eventually led to the identification and arrest of the four suspects, while other members of the alleged criminal group remain on the run.
He stated that preliminary findings linked the suspects to a burglary syndicate operating in Idanre and neighbouring communities.
Jimoh further disclosed that investigators uncovered another incident allegedly involving the principal suspect, Alex Omotayo.
According to him, the suspect was accused of storming the premises of Idanre High School on March 13, 2026, armed with two firearms, where he allegedly threatened to kill a security guard over claims that the guard had shot at him the previous night.
The police spokesperson said the development prompted detectives to obtain and execute a search warrant at Omotayo’s residence.
He said officers recovered a cut-to-size single-barrel gun and a locally fabricated revolver concealed within the premises.
“The recovered weapons have been taken into police custody as exhibits and will form part of the ongoing investigation,” Jimoh said.
He added that the four suspects and the case file had been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure for further investigation.
Jimoh noted that efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and ensure that everyone found culpable is brought to justice.
The command also appealed to residents to remain security-conscious and continue to provide credible and timely information to law enforcement agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to combating crime across the state.
