Oyo police neutralize robbery gang kingpin
The police in Oyo State have neutralised the leader of a suspected robbery gang that allegedly killed a policeman in Ibadan recently.
Three other suspects were arrested by the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, stated this while parading the suspects at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the gang allegedly killed the police officer, ASP Ogunleye Daniel, during the invasion of his residence at Ori-Agogo, in the Odo-Ona Kekere area of Ibadan on April 29.
NAN also reported that other suspects paraded by the command included six highway robbers, who specialised in snatching motorcycles and removing cars from wherever they might be parked.
Osifeso said the leader of the robbery gang was killed during an encounter with the police.
He said the hoodlums, numbering five, invaded Ori-Agogo on April 29 around 1am and robbed several residents of their belongings.
Osifeso said the suspects killed Daniel, who was serving at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, after robbing him and other members of his family.
“Consequently, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-Robbery Section immediately swung into action and tracked the suspects, using a mobile phone found at the scene of the crime.
“Three suspects, including their spiritual healer, were arrested, while their gang leader, popularly known as Ogun, who allegedly shot and killed the deceased officer, was neutralised during an encounter with police operatives,” he added.
Osifeso said the suspects, during their voluntary confession, identified their receiver of stolen property as Iya Alaye.
He said the woman, who used to receive jewellery from them, was tracked and arrested in the Oranyan area of Ibadan.
The police spokesman listed the items found with the suspects to include two Samsung phones, a 1999 Hyundai Elantra vehicle, a cut-to-size locally-made gun, two wrist watches, two wedding bands, herbal concoctions, as well as gold and criminal charms.
One of the suspects, in an interview, said he just returned from prison but returned to robbery because there was no job and support from anyone after he lost his parents.
He said their slain gang leader re-introduced him to robbery and that he had only participated in three operations with his gang members.
He pleaded for leniency.
