Detectives attached to the Mapo Divisional Headquarters in Oyo state, on Wednesday, arrested five suspected armed robbers for illegal possession of firearms in a building in the Oke Labo area of Ibadan.

Spokesperson for the command, Ayanlade Olayinka, in a statement on Friday, said the suspects were arrested after a search was conducted on the building.

The operation was conducted on Wednesday morning.

“Acting promptly on the intelligence, the detectives moved to the location and conducted a search of a building at Oke Labo, Ibadan, leading to the arrest of five suspects identified as Ijo Lekan, 28; Abdulateef Ishola, 26; Idowu Rasheed, 19; Azeez Olalekan, 23; and Seun Adeniran, 24, while other suspects connected to the operation remain at large.

“The operation also led to the recovery of one locally made pistol and seven live cartridges. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of an armed robbery syndicate and admitted to participating in several violent attacks and other criminal activities within Ibadan,” said the police.

Mr Ayanlade said the suspects are cooperating with investigators, providing useful information to help identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, as well as recover additional evidence.

The police commissioner, Abimbola Olugbenga, according to the statement, also ordered an investigation to unravel the full extent of the suspects’ criminal activities, identify other members of the syndicate and ensure all connected to the crimes are brought to justice.