Comissioner of Police, Osun State, Mohammed Umar Abba, has given kudos to his officers for imbibing community policing, adding that the command arrested 22 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and ritualists: “We also recovered stolen cars and some dangerous weapons in their hideouts.
“My officers deserve accolades for imbibing community policing in discharging their duties during the August protest. I had to appeal to the protesters to be peaceful and not to destroy government property while we provided security for them.
“In July and August 2024, police clamped down on the notorious armed robbers and kidnappers terrorising Ede, Ikirun and Osogbo. We are not taking chances for the criminals to operate in the state again.
“Operatives arrested six suspected armed robbers terrorising Ede. The suspects confessed that they came from Lagos to operate in Ede based on information from their accomplice who resides in Ede. We recovered dane gun, pump action and two stolen cars.
“Police arrested another four suspects during cult clash at a place close to Osun State University, Okuku campus. They are members of the Buccaneer and the Black Axe confraternities. We recovered pump action gun, locally made cut-to-size pistol, two axes, cutlasses and live cartridges.
“The CP monitoring units arrested six suspected armed robbers and kidnappers at various locations in Ede, Abeokuta (Ogun State), Akure (Ondo State) and Lagos State. Police in Ada, Boripe Local Government arrested a 60-year-old blacksmith and two other men for unlawful possession of fabricated single barrel gun and sale of cartridge to suspected criminals.
“Operatives at Oke-Odo Division, Osogbo, arrested Kehinde for alleged murder of a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Collins, in Osogbo, for money ritual purpose. The suspect confessed to killing Collins by slaughtering him with a kitchen knife while he was sleeping and removing his throat, which he had confessed to dying in the sun for three days.
“They recovered four different blood-stained knives, one wooden traditional pot containing black soap, two local sponges with black soap, one wooden traditional tray (Opon Ifa), one wooden box and some local charms.
“The state is too hot for the criminals to operate. We appreciate the public for given us useful information to flush out the hoodlums out of the state. The suspects will soon charged to court.”