The Osun State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered several stolen items in coordinated operations across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Osogbo by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi.
According to the statement, the suspects were identified as Akinwale Morufu, 43; Banji Tope, 40; and Banji Olumide, 30.
Police said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations aimed at curbing criminal activities and maintaining security across the state.
Recovered items include a Tecno POP 8 android phone, a Moniepoint ATM card, a locally made cut-to-size pistol, a catapult, a knife, and a padlock.
Other items listed were a voter’s card, a black bag, and an unregistered blue TVS motorcycle.
Ojelabi stated that on 19 April 2026, police received information from community members about a suspicious black bag found in an uncompleted building.
He said officers from the Iragbiji Police Divisional Headquarters “swung into action” and recovered the bag, which contained the listed items.
“During the course of intelligence-led investigation, the owner of the voter’s card was arrested, and he admitted ownership of the black bag and the locally made pistol, but denied ownership of the phone and ATM card,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that technical analysis led to the identification of the phone’s owner, who confirmed it had been stolen during an earlier robbery incident.
He quoted the victim as reporting that “armed robbers burgled into her apartment at about 05:00hrs and carted away her phone and the sum of N89,000 at gunpoint.”
In a related development, Ojelabi said a distress call was received the same day from a cooking gas seller in Isale Oyo, Iragbiji.
According to him, the victim reported that four armed men invaded his shop, demanded money, and shot him in both legs before fleeing.
The attackers reportedly escaped with cash, two iPhone 11 Pro Max devices, and an unregistered TVS Lady motorcycle.
“Following leads and gathering intelligence, one of the suspects, Banji Tope, was arrested in Ikirun, and the stolen motorcycle was recovered from him,” Ojelabi said.
He added that further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Banji Olumide, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, reiterated the command’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure peace and security across the state.