The police command in Ondo state on Monday said it arrested three interstate armed robbery syndicates and recovered AK-47 rifles, Beretta pistols and other items.

The commissioner of police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, announced this in Akure while parading the three suspects and seven others.

Mr Ohagwu said the suspects were members of a notorious interstate armed robbery syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of armed robbery operations across Ondo and Lagos.

He identified the three suspects as Promise Daniel (34), Ifeanyi Umahi (29) and Adaramoye Abayomi (37), saying they were arrested on Saturday.

The commissioner, who explained that the breakthrough was aimed at sustaining the offensive against violent crime, said the arrest followed a painstaking, intelligence-led operation by the command.

According to him, the arrest was made in connection with an armed robbery case initially reported on June 14, 2026, at Iju Division, Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North council area.

“Acting on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, the operatives intercepted the suspects while they were travelling in a Mercedes-Benz ML 350 SUV (ash).

“A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of the following exhibits: one AK-47 rifle and one magazine loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition.

“Others are one English-made Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of live ammunition, one axe, and one iron cutter. Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspects were on the command’s watchlist for alleged involvement in violent robberies across the state,” the police chief said.

During interrogation, the suspects made useful confessional statements regarding the ownership of the recovered weapons and other criminal activities.

“The information provided is currently assisting investigators in tracking down other fleeing members of the gang and uncovering the full extent of their operations,” Mr Ohagwu said. 

(NAN)