• Foil cattle rustling, arrest four suspects in Oyo
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with a fatal altercation that claimed the life of a resident in Asalu Community in Lalupon area of Ibadan.
 
The Command said the incident occurred following a confrontation involving a group of youths within the community, which left several persons injured and led to the death of one of the victims.

According to a statement yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, community leaders had reported the incident to the Iyana-Offa Police Division after security guards alerted them to a disturbance in the area during the night.
 
Preliminary investigation revealed that the injured victims were immediately rushed to Ojo Oluwa Hospital, Iyana-Offa, for medical attention.
 
However, one of them, identified simply as Kehinde, popularly known as “Ogo Ojigbo,” later died from injuries sustained during the clash.

Following the report, a team of police operatives, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Iyana-Offa Division, swiftly moved to the scene and the hospital to commence investigation.

The police said one suspect, identified as Giwa Sodiq, was arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects who reportedly fled the scene.
 
The deceased’s remains have been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital mortuary, Ring Road, Ibadan, for preservation and autopsy.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, commended the prompt response of the operatives involved in the investigation and assured residents that the command would ensure that all those responsible for the crime are brought to justice.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to security agencies.

Haruna further appealed to residents with credible information that could aid the arrest of the fleeing suspects to come forward and assist the police in the ongoing investigation.

The police reiterated their commitment to strengthening community policing and maintaining safety across the state, urging residents to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies to ensure peaceful communities.

Meanwhile, the Command has foiled a cattle rustling operation and arrested four suspects following a coordinated response to a distress call from the Ado-Awaye axis of the state. 

The Command said its operatives yesterday recovered rustled cattle and a vehicle used by the suspects during the operation carried out in the early hours of March 13.
 
The spokesperson for the Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. when a resident of the Igbojaye area, Muhammad Ibrahim, reported that armed hoodlums had invaded a cattle camp belonging to one Yahaya at Iserin area via Ado-Awaye and made away with several cows.
 
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ado-Awaye immediately mobilised a joint patrol team comprising police operatives and local vigilantes to the scene.
 
The team intercepted the suspects while attempting to escape with the livestock.
 
He said the suspects had already loaded two cows into a white Mazda bus with registration number KMA 178 ZY and were in the process of loading three other cows when operatives closed in on them.

“On sighting the patrol team, the hoodlums abandoned the vehicle loaded with the cattle and fled into the bush,” the statement said.

The operatives also found two cattle herders, Ibrahim Musa and Ibrahim Umaru, who had been tied up by the fleeing suspects.

Following the development, security operatives launched a bush-combing operation, which led to the arrest of Sekooni Wale, 30, identified as the driver of the Mazda bus, and Jimoh Toheeb, 25, said to be the motor boy.

Further investigation, according to the police, extended to Maya Town in the Lanlate area, where the principal suspect, Moshood Abdullahi, 38, was arrested. He was described as a notorious cattle rustler who reportedly came from Badagry.

His arrest also led to the apprehension of another suspect, Macho Sindi, 29.

The suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation.

The Command added that the stolen cattle and the vehicle used in the operation were recovered.

CP Femi Haruna has commended the operatives and local security partners for their swift response, noting that their timely intervention prevented the suspects from escaping with the livestock.
 
He also appreciated the support and guidance of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, in strengthening security and community policing efforts across the country.

Haruna further urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.