The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers and recovered a firearm allegedly used in a highway robbery operation along the Oyo–Iwo Expressway in Afijio Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, July 5, 2026, following a distress call received at the Police Control Room in Eleyele, Ibadan.
The report indicated that a group of armed men had barricaded the highway around Akoda Village, attacking motorists and passengers.
The suspects reportedly dispossessed victims of their valuables, while some sustained machete injuries during the attack.
Acting swiftly on the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, directed operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the scene.
The officers secured the area, rescued victims, and conducted a thorough search, which led to the recovery of a single-barrel gun and two clubs believed to have been used during the operation.
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Further intelligence-driven investigations led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Abubakar Jape and Sheu Dengi at their hideouts.
Police authorities disclosed that the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation. They were also identified by victims during an identification parade.
A subsequent search of one of the hideouts resulted in the recovery of a rechargeable touchlight belonging to one of the victims.
The Commissioner of Police commended the оперативes for their prompt and professional response, describing the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the Command’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime.
He assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang still at large and urged the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies.
The Oyo–Iwo Expressway, a key route linking Oyo and Osun States, has recorded occasional cases of highway robbery, particularly during early morning and late-night hours. Security agencies have since intensified patrols and surveillance along the corridor to enhance safety for commuters and traders
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