By Clarion Newschannel TV
There was jubilation across Ifo and surrounding communities following the arrest of a notorious armed robbery syndicate by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command. Acting on credible technical intelligence, the police conducted a successful operation at about 12:40 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in the Oloshe area, leading to the arrest of one Lekan Annuoluwapo (male, 32) and his female companion, Ajoke Kareem (female, 33).
The duo had been terrorizing residents of Agosi, Old Bank Area, Olomu Road, Oju-Sango, Folam, Oloshe Road, Ikorita, and Ajowa communities in the Ifo axis.
Two armed robbery incidents have been directly linked to the syndicate. The first occurred on October 17, 2025, at about 6:30 a.m., when two armed men attacked a woman sweeping a church compound in preparation for morning prayers. The robbers dispossessed her of her handbag containing an unspecified amount of money. One Wale Adeleye, who was later apprehended, confessed to carrying out the attack alongside Lekan Annuoluwapo using a locally made pistol.
A second robbery was reported on October 25, 2025, at about 3:00 a.m., when armed men invaded a residence, held the occupant at gunpoint, and carted away valuables including a power bank, an Infinix phone, and a POS machine. The victim was shot in the chest while raising an alarm, and the robbers fled the scene, abandoning a locally made pistol with an empty cartridge. Upon Annuoluwapo’s arrest, the victim identified him as one of the attackers.
During interrogation, Lekan Annuoluwapo named Akpomoka Gabriel a.k.a. Akuru (male, 36), residing at Ogba-Iyo, Ijoko-Ota, as his principal accomplice in the series of robberies. The police promptly tracked and arrested Akpomoka Gabriel. His capture sparked spontaneous jubilation in Ijoko and Ogba-Iyo, with residents expressing relief and gratitude to security operatives for curbing the wave of armed robbery attacks that had plagued their communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, commended the operatives for their gallantry and professionalism. He directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.
CP Ogunlowo further instructed the Area Commanders of Sango-Ota and Ifo to intensify security surveillance across identified flashpoints, particularly during the “Ember Months,” to deter criminal activities and ensure the safety of lives and property.
Reassuring residents, the Ogun State Police Command reiterated its unwavering commitment to mopping up light arms and dismantling criminal networks across all communities in the state.
Relief in Ifo as Police Smash Armed Robbery Gang, Recover Locally Made Pistol
