Lauretta Fagbohun
Abeokuta.
The Ogun State Police Command has foiled an armed robbery operation in the Ijaba-Iyesi area of Ota neutralising one suspected robber and recovering two vehicles, a firearm and several stolen valuables.
The operation, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, 2026, involved operatives of the Onipanu Divisional Police Headquarters under the Ota Area Command, following a distress call from a resident reporting a robbery incident.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the patrol team arrived at the scene at about 1:45 a.m. in response to the emergency report.
He said the suspected robbers opened fire on sighting the approaching officers, leading to an exchange of gunfire during which one of the suspects was neutralised, while other members of the gang escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
A search of the scene led to the recovery of a locally made pistol, two live cartridges and seven expended cartridges allegedly belonging to the deceased suspect. Other items found on him included a Tecno mobile phone, three passport photographs, an MTN SIM pack, two National Identification Number (NIN) cards and some cash.
The police also recovered two vehicles, a Nissan Almera and a Toyota Camry, suspected to have been stolen, alongside several household and electronic items believed to have been looted.
The recovered valuables included HP and Dell laptops, a PlayStation console, four mobile phones, a Samsung television, a standing fan, a rechargeable radio, a Wi-Fi device, clothing, an OPay ATM card, a sound deck and two MP devices.
Babaseyi said the Command had launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects, particularly those believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter. He added that investigations were ongoing to establish the rightful owners of the recovered vehicles and determine whether they were connected to other criminal activities in the state.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their prompt response, bravery and professionalism, describing their action as a demonstration of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Ojajuni reiterated the Command’s resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations and intensified patrols across the state, while urging residents to promptly report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could assist the police in preventing and combating criminal activities.
