The police command in Oyo State says it arrested 43 suspected armed robbers and 23 kidnappers in the state between August and December.

The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Femi Haruna, disclosed this during the command’s 2025 End of Quarter Security Evaluation Summit, held at its headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

Mr Haruna, represented by Salaudeen Isiaka, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, said the command arrested 15 murder suspects during the period.

The CP said that nine alleged sex offenders and nine suspected cult members were also arrested within the period.

According to him, the command recovered two AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, 135 cartridges, 10 locally fabricated firearms, four locally made pistols, and ₦1,152,800.00 cash.

“These accomplishments highlight our steadfast commitment to confronting crime head-on and restoring order within our communities,” he said.

Mr Haruna said the command was actively pursuing the recent kidnap victims, Wale Oriade and Ibukun Otesile, who were respectively abducted on December 3 and 4 in the state.

The command, he says, is committing all available resources within its operational and intelligence capacities to ensure their safe return to their families.

He added that police personnel risk their lives in the line of duty to protect the citizens.

The police boss said that some of his officers sustained gunshot wounds during a response to thwart the October 27 robbery operation at the Zenith Bank at Bodija, Ibadan.

According to him, the command grieves another officer who was tragically crushed to death by a suspected gang driver on Dec. 4.

In his remarks, Niyi Ajewole, president-general, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), acknowledged the spirited efforts of police officers in securing the country.

He, however, regretted the situation whereby they are not adequately appreciated.

Mr Ajewole appealed to the command to do more on intelligence gathering to identify hotspots and flush out criminals for the safety of all.

The chairman of Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, Nurudeen Akinade, urged the police to address land-grabbing issues, explaining how they contribute to insecurity in the state.

Meanwhile, Akande Ajolayo, Oyo State coordinator of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), lauded the command for duly protecting lives and property in the state.

Mr Ajolayo, however, called on the police to work on securing public trust to boost intelligence gathering needed to get rid of criminals.

The president of the Association of Ibadan Mogajis, Asimiyu Ariori, urged the police to work with local hunters to flush out criminals in the state.

According to Ms Ariori, who commended the police for the summit, community leaders in the state are ready to work with them to address insecurity.

Others who spoke are: Esther Adegbenjo, Oyo State chairperson, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC); Babaloja of Oyo State, Yekini Abass, and Iyaloja of Oyo State, Saratu Konibaje.

Others include Tiamiyu Taiwo, the Oyo State chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and representatives of the Park Management System (PMS), amongst others.

(NAN)