Police parade 20 suspected armed robbers, others in Osun

The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of no fewer than 20 suspected criminals for various offences across the state.

Presenting the suspects to journalists on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, revealed that armed robbery suspects Olajide Kareem, 28; Mike Emmanuel, 33; and Godwin Emmanuel, 23, were apprehended along the Ilesha-Osu Road.

She added that during the robbery, a bus driver was shot in the leg, and a female passenger was raped by one of the suspects.

“This concerns a case of conspiracy and armed robbery incidents along the Ilesha-Osu Expressway, where a gang of suspected armed robbers robbed motorists and passengers of their belongings, including jewellery, mobile phones, money, and other valuables.

“In one of the incidents, a bus driver was shot in the leg but was later rushed to the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, where he received treatment. Following the report, the DPO at Moore Division, Ile-Ife, led his patrol team, together with members of the local vigilante group, and arrested one Olajide Kareem in the bush.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he was a member of a five-man gang of armed robbers who came from Ikorodu, Lagos State, to carry out their activities in Osun State.

“Intelligence-driven investigations and tactical operations led the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos State, where Mike Emmanuel and Godwin Emmanuel were arrested. Both suspects confessed to the offences during questioning,” the statement said.

Opalola further explained that, during the investigation, a 65-year-old female victim identified Kareem Olajide as the person who raped her while she was accompanying her sick husband to the hospital. Their vehicle was stopped at gunpoint. Tragically, her husband died at the scene.

The suspects will be prosecuted after the investigation is concluded.

Also paraded was Emmanuel Anthony, who is accused of using military uniforms to rob passengers along Ekiti Road. He allegedly forced a victim from Esa-Oke to transfer N3 million to his account. Anthony is also accused of attacking two others and robbing them of mobile phones valued at N1.25 million.

Seven other suspects arrested for conspiracy, armed robbery, and the receipt of stolen vehicles were also paraded.

Opalola added that suspects Lawan Yaro, Gambo Dugje, Adam Abba, Ali Usman, Ali Muhammed, Abbas Abogu, Kamal Haudu, and others would be arraigned in court once investigations into their crimes are completed.