The Oyo State police command has confirmed the arrest of three suspected armed robbers, routinely involved in snatching mobile phones, motorcycles and dispossessing residents of valuables at gunpoint.

In a statement on Thursday, its spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspects were intercepted and apprehended during a routine stop-and-search exercise within the Ibadan metropolis.

The command stated that its officers attached to the Operations Department intercepted an unregistered tricycle, which conveyed three passengers including its rider.

“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that men of the Operations Department, during a routine stop-and-search exercise, successfully intercepted and apprehended three suspected armed robbers within the Ibadan metropolis,” Mr Olayinka stated.

“This operation is part of the command’s proactive policing strategies, which include roadblocks and stop-and-search measures, designed to deter criminal activities, prevent armed robbery, and ensure the safety of residents across Oyo State,” the spokesman said.

Mr Olayinka stated that a thorough search of the tricycle led to the discovery of a concealed locally fabricated single-barrel gun.

“The immediate apprehension of the occupants was a direct result of the vigilance of the operatives and the effectiveness of the stop-and-search strategy,” the statement read.

According to the police, the suspects, identified as Abdulrahman Rasheed (19), Biodun Fatai (18) and Muiz Salawudeen (18), confessed to being involved in several cases of armed robbery within the state.

“These confessions confirmed the intelligence value of the initial stop-and-search operation and highlighted the importance of proactive policing in curbing violent crime,” the statement said.

The spokesman noted that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, had directed that the suspects and the recovered firearm be handed over to the command’s Monitoring Unit, to ensure that investigation would be thorough and intelligence-driven. 

Mr Olayinka added that the suspects were in custody and would be charged to court accordingly.

The command urged members of the public to cooperate with its operatives during operations, as well as provide timely and credible information to sustain public safety.