Oyo State police command says it recovered firearms, ammunition, charms and campaign-branded materials belonging to the Accord Party’s governorship candidate Oriyomi Hamzat from the apartment of Surajudeen Babatunde Adio, popularly known as Surii Ilupeju.

Mr Hamzat is also the founder of Ibadan-based Agidigbo FM. 

Speaking during the presentation of the recovered items to journalists at the police headquarters on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the items were recovered during a raid of Mr Adio’s apartment following a complaint from a victim.

Mr Olayinka stated, “This followed a report by one Nigerian that while he was travelling, one vehicle intercepted him and told him to leave the road. In an attempt to step out of the vehicle, he saw one Babatunde Adio popularly known as Surii Ilupeju and his boys coming out with an AK-47 rifle and threatening him to waste his life if he does not. They also beat him. He went to one of our outposts to report the incident.”

Mr Olayinka said that upon the receipt of the information, the state commissioner of police directed the case to be transferred to CP monitoring unit at the police headquarters and investigation subsequently began.

The police spokesperson noted that following adequate confirmation, the command extended an invitation to Mr Adio who refused to honour it.

He added, “When it was confirmed that it was Surri and his men that attacked the said person, the police extended invitation to him (Surri) which he didn’t honour. The police went to his apartment and recovered these weapons and others.”

According to him, investigations and the arrest of five suspects led to further discovery and the searching of the remaining part of Mr Ilupeju’s apartment where additional arms, a pack of magazines and campaign items belonging to Mr Hamzat were recovered.

Mr Olayinka urged members of the public to report any useful information that could aid Mr Adio’s arrest, vowing that anybody linked to the crime would be arrested and investigated in accordance with the law.

“We use this medium to call on the public to help with information that can lead to his arrest. It’s still an ongoing investigation and I can assure you that no stone will be left unturned. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be properly charged to court. Anybody indicted or found culpable in connection with the crime will be invited and investigated properly,” he added.

One of those arrested in the apartment is the fleeing suspect’s son who stated that the law should take its course if his father was found guilty of the crime. 

He also expressed surprised at the incriminating items discovered by the police in the apartment.

The latest development came after the police earlier announced it raided Mr Adio’s apartment and arrested five suspected armed robbers.

The command also 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.