The police command in Oyo State says it has recovered additional firearms, ammunition, vehicles and other exhibits, following the initial arrest of a suspected armed robber, identified as Surajudeen Babatunde Adio, also known as “Surii Ilupeju,” and four others.

Last Saturday, the Peoples Gazette reported that the command arrested five suspects in the Gbeku area of Olodo, Ibadan. 

At the time, the police said it recovered exhibits, including one pump-action gun, one single-barrel cut-to-size gun, eight live cartridges, one native bullet-proof vest, two bottles of suspected charm-induced syrup, assorted charms and other incriminating items, from Mr Surajudeen’s residence.

In an update on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, said in a statement that ongoing investigations and the interrogation of the suspects led to the recovery of additional exhibits linked to the case.

Mr Olayinka said police operatives recovered additional firearms and ammunition, including “one pump-action gun; one single-barrel gun; one single-barrel cut-to-size gun; two locally made single-barrel pistols; one locally made double-barrel pistol; twenty-three (23) live cartridges; and eight (8) live rounds of AK-47 ammunition.”

The spokesman said police operatives also intercepted and recovered several vehicles including: “one Mazda bus, registration number FFE 08 XB; one Hummer bus, registration number MUS 246 CK; one BAW bus, registration number KTU 688 YG; and one Toyota bus.”

Other vehicles recovered are: “one Toyota bus, registration number BDG 117 YK; one Toyota bus, registration number BRS 842 TW; one Toyota Sienna, registration number LSD 68 CJ; one Ford Sharon, registration number FKJ 39 EW; one Toyota Sienna, registration number BDG 986 SA; one Toyota Previa; and one Nissan Cabstar.”

He added that other items recovered include motorcycles such as “one Suzuki Inazuma power bike, one blue Honda motorcycle (scrap), one red Honda motorcycle (scrap), and one Bajaj Boxer motorcycle (scrap)”, as well as assorted materials such as “large quantities of Accord Party hats, shirts and face caps”, which may be relevant to its ongoing investigation.

Mr Olayinka said efforts are ongoing to establish the ownership, relevance and possible connection of the recovered items to criminal activities which have been reported within and outside the state, as well as to identify and apprehend other persons who may be linked to the syndicate.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, reaffirmed the command’s unwavering determination to sustain intelligence-driven operations against armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.