Ogun State Police Command on Wednesday paraded 70 suspects whose offences ranged from armed robbery, kidnapping impersonation to cultism, car snatching and ritual killing.
They were paraded at the command’s headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta, by the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu.
The police boss who said the suspects were smoked out from their various hideouts in its operation codenamed ‘criminals mop up’, added that 15 pump action guns and 14 cut to size locally made pistols were recovered.
He said many live cartridges and five different cars and trucks were equally recovered from the hoodlums. Iliyasu further explained that 31 cultists were among the suspects, adding that they were caught in the act while doing initiation at an hotel in Okeyidi area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
“They were caught while they singing their initiation songs,” he said.
Twenty-eight other suspects were also arrested for armed robbery; two arrested for ritual killing while four others were arrested for kidnapping.
Among the armed robbery suspects was a member of the gang who shot and wounded the Divisional Police Officer of Ogbere Police Station on 13th September, while responding to a distress call at an hotel at Itele Ijebu area of the state.
Thirty-one-year-old Wasiu Ganiyu told journalists that it was the gang leader Mungo Park who shot the DPO. Items recovered from there were two AK47 rifles, one pump action gun, seven magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each, one Toyota Sienna car, One motorcycle, one jack knife and five live cartridges.
Ganiyu while speaking to journalists, disclosed that he ventured into armed robbery three years ago in order to survive after his motorcycle was stolen.
Also apprehended Iliyasu said were three dismissed soldiers; Abiona Ipaye, Afolabi Olawale and Moses Ayodeji, who were responsible for various car snatching incidents in the state. He said they were arrested at Sango Ota.
According to him, one toy gun; one jack knife and Nigerian Army uniforms were recovered from them.
Also paraded were cemetery attendants, Jimoh Olanrewaju and Seun Babatunde who, according to the police commissioner, were arrested for selling human parts to interested buyers.
Iliyasu said they were arrested at the popular Muslim burial ground in Lantoro, Abeokuta with assorted charms, adding that they have since confessed using human parts to prepare charms.
While he thanked members of the public for their support, Iliyasu said the command was ready to ensure safety during the ’ember’ months.
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