A routine intelligence-led stop-and-search operation by operatives of the Oyo State Police Command‘s Safer Highway Patrol has led to the arrest of a suspected armed robber and recovery of a locally made pistol and live cartridge along the Ibadan-Ife Road.

The operation, according to the command, was conducted at about 5:30 p.m. on September 25, 2026, around Ajia Junction, as part of efforts to prevent the movement of criminal elements and prohibited weapons along major highways.

The police said operatives intercepted a white-colour Mazda bus travelling from Ibadan towards Ondo State and subjected the vehicle and its occupants to a search.

During the search, one of the passengers, identified as Emmanuel Kingsley Odoh, was allegedly found in possession of a locally made pistol and a live cartridge.

The suspect was subsequently arrested, while the firearm and ammunition were secured as exhibits for investigation.

The command said the bus was driven by Sanusi Afeez Adedamola, of Owena.

Following the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed that the case be transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for discreet investigation.

The unit, the command said, has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the recovered firearm, identifying and arresting other members of the suspected criminal syndicate, and prosecuting those found culpable upon conclusion of the investigation.

The latest arrest, according to the police, stresses the role of intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in preventing crime, especially along major highways and other routes identified as vulnerable to criminal activities.

The command said professionally conducted searches could help intercept firearms and other prohibited items, disrupt the movement of suspected criminals and provide intelligence that could assist broader crime-prevention operations.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command would sustain proactive patrols and intelligence-led stop-and-search operations across the state.

The command also reassured commuters and residents along major highways of its commitment to their safety, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime.