Police nab four suspected armed robbers in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers linked to a burglary and robbery syndicate operating within the Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the breakthrough in a statement issued on Friday.

He said the operation led to the neutralization of a notorious crime ring and the direct recovery of illegal firearms

According to the statement, the suspects are Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun and Nura Umar.

“The command has arrested four suspected armed robbers linked to a burglary syndicate operating within Idanre and its environs.

“The operation also led to the recovery of illegal firearms, further reinforcing the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.

“The investigation was triggered by a report made on 15th June, 2026, at the Alade/Atosin Police Station by one Abayomi of Alade-Idanre.

“The complainant reported that unknown persons had burgled his cocoa store during the night and carted away a bag of cocoa valued at N1,250,000.

“Following painstaking intelligence gathering and investigation by detectives, the perpetrators were identified as Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun, Nura Umar and other accomplices who are currently at large.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives arrested the four named suspects and commenced further investigation into the activities of the criminal gang,” the statement partly read.

According to the PPRO, during the investigation, additional information received revealed that on March 13, 2026, the principal suspect, Alex Omotayo, had allegedly “invaded the Idanre High School premises armed with two firearms and threatened to kill a security guard whom he accused of shooting at him the previous night.”

“This revelation further established the suspect’s violent criminal disposition and necessitated a comprehensive search of his residence.

“A search warrant was subsequently executed at the residence of the principal suspect, where officers recovered one cut-to-size single-barrel firearm and one locally made revolver concealed within the premises.

“The recovered weapons have been taken into police custody as exhibits and will form part of the ongoing investigation,” Jimoh stated.

He added that the case had been transferred, along with the four suspects, to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command in Akure for further investigation.

He said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining fleeing members of the gang and ensure the diligent prosecution of all those found culpable.

The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to the police, saying community partnership remained indispensable in the collective effort to keep the state safe and secure.