Oyo: Police parade arms, ritual items in major crime bust

From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has showcased a cache of recovered weapons, suspected ritual items, and stolen property.

Speaking during his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, said the exhibits reflected the scale and intensity of recent operations.

Items displayed included firearms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, motorcycle parts, and materials suspected to be linked to ritual activities, recovered from suspects arrested across the state. Olugbenga explained that the recoveries resulted from intelligence-led policing and coordinated efforts by the Monitoring Unit and other tactical teams, leading to the disruption of several criminal networks. He noted key breakthroughs, including the dismantling of vehicle theft syndicates, arrests of armed robbery gangs, interception of kidnapping operations, and recovery of diverted food items meant for government programmes.

The commissioner emphasised that the command’s strategy focused not only on arrests but also on recovering exhibits to aid investigation and prosecution. He warned criminals to desist or face the full weight of the law. He stressed that the police would sustain the momentum through improved intelligence gathering and community collaboration.

Olugbenga commended residents for their support, noting that credible information from the public contributed significantly to the successes recorded.

He reassured citizens of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities.