Ibadan – The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a significant success in its efforts to curb highway criminality, following the arrest of a suspected armed robber and the disruption of a highway robbery along the Ogbomoso–Ilorin Expressway.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a joint patrol team comprising Police operatives and local vigilantes encountered armed robbers at Egbeda Village via Ogbomoso. The hoodlums had blocked the highway and stopped a tanker loaded with diesel, driven by Surajudeen Sulaiman.
The robbers forcibly dispossessed the tanker driver and his motor boys of their belongings. A gun duel ensued between the fleeing hoodlums and the Police patrol team, during which one of the suspects, later identified as Dere Yahaya, aged 32, was apprehended. Other members of the gang escaped into the bush, sustaining bullet wounds.
Following the incident, the Police and vigilante team embarked on intensive bush combing and a manhunt for the fleeing suspects. The operation underscores the Command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety and safeguarding lives and property along major highways in Oyo State.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna PSC (+), appreciates the bravery and quick response of the operatives and local security partners during the operation. He also expresses his profound appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu PSC (+), NPM, for his continuous guidance and support in strengthening highway and community policing across the Nation.
Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities promptly, and continue to collaborate with security agencies to ensure a safer environment for all.
For Emergencies, Contact:
Oyo State Call Response Center Toll-Free Line: 615.
Oyo State Police Command Control Room: 08081768614 & 07055495413.
E- SIGNED
DSP AYANLADE OLAYINKA
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
16th March, 2026
