The Oyo State Police Command says it arrested five suspects and recovered a locally made pistol and seven live cartridges during a search of a building in the Oke Labo area of Ibadan.
The command said detectives attached to the Mapo Divisional Headquarters carried out the operation at about 11:16 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after receiving information about the location.
Police identified those arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm as Ijo Lekan, 28, Abdulateef Ishola, 26, Idowu Rasheed, 19, Azeez Olalekan, 23, and Seun Adeniran, 24. The command said other suspects linked to the case remain at large.
According to the command, the five suspects told investigators during questioning that they belonged to an armed robbery gang and had taken part in several violent attacks and other crimes in Ibadan. Police said the suspects were providing information to help detectives identify and arrest others and recover additional evidence.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed detectives to establish the extent of the alleged gang’s activities and identify others who may have been involved.
The command urged residents to provide timely information that could assist the investigation and said it would intensify efforts to recover illegal firearms across the state.
