Etim Effiong
The operatives of the Ogun State Police Command arrested one suspected armed robber in the early hours of Saturday, May 15, as he and some of his robbery gang engaged the police in gun battle at Ipamesan area of Sango Ota.
It was learnt that residents of Ipamesan area placed a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer, Sango Ota divisional headquarters that armed robbers were operating in the area, adding that they had already boggled a warehouse.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said: “Upon the distress call, the DPO, CSP Godwin Idehai, quickly mobilized his patrol team, and moved to the scene.
“On sighting the policemen, the robbers, who had snatched two vehicles from different locations, took to flight, but were hotly chased by the policemen.
“On getting to the Joju area and realising the determination of the patrol team to subdue them, they decided to engage the policemen in a gun battle.
“Due to the superior firepower of the policemen, they abandoned the two robbed vehicles, a Lexus RS 330 with number plate FKJ 691 FW snatched from one Dosumu Kazeem, and a Toyota Matrix with number plate MUS 835 FW stolen from one Ibrahim Lateef and took to their heels. The team pursued them, and one of the robbers, later identified as Henry Obe was arrested in the process.”
Oyeyemi added that the police later discovered that the hoodlums had shot a guard attached to a warehouse owned by one Yinka Oduwale, before breaking into it and looting the place.
He noted that the guard was rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
Oyeyemi explained, “Items recovered from them are: one long gun, 41 laptops, 2DVD players, two phones, three tablets’ gadgets, one Lexus RS 330 with number plate FKJ 691 FW and Toyota Matrix with number plate MUS 835 FW.”
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, the PPRO said Awolowo has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department for discreet investigation.