The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a five-man armed robbery gang and recovered goods valued at ₦31,750,000 following a highway attack along the Coca-Cola area of Asejire, Ibadan.

Police said the breakthrough was achieved through timely intelligence provided by members of the public, which enabled operatives to track the suspects to Oko area of Ogbomoso, where they were apprehended.

The victim, identified as Ezekiel Inije, was reportedly robbed at gunpoint while transporting agricultural products. The assailants allegedly hijacked a Howo Long truck loaded with 2,000 bags of Karma Agric chicken feeds valued at ₦31.75 million.

Acting on the information, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, directed the Command’s Monitoring Unit to launch an immediate operation. Leveraging human intelligence and technology-driven investigation, the operatives tracked down the syndicate within days of the incident.

The three arrested suspects were identified as Chigbo Mesoma, 24; Erondu Wisdom, 29; and Okechukwu Emmanuel, 25.

Recovered items include the hijacked Howo Long truck with Lagos registration number AAA 724 YJ, fully loaded with the stolen poultry feeds; a cutlass; and an additional Lagos State number plate, LSR 339 XW, suspected to have been used to conceal the vehicle’s identity.

Police authorities disclosed that the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the robbery and are currently assisting investigators in efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang. The syndicate is believed to specialise in highway robbery and hijacking of goods.

Haruna commended the operatives for what he described as professionalism and swift response, noting that the success underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing.

He also lauded residents for their cooperation, stressing that community partnership remains critical in tackling crime.

“The support of the public was instrumental to this breakthrough. We encourage residents to continue to volunteer credible information, which will always be treated with utmost confidentiality,” the police chief said.

He assured that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that the remaining suspects are arrested and prosecuted.

The Command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, warning that Oyo would not serve as a safe haven for criminal elements.

Residents were urged to report suspicious activities through the state’s emergency response channels, including the toll-free line 615 and the Police Control Room numbers 08081768614 and 07055495413.

The suspects are expected to be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.