Officers of the Ogun State Police Command on Saturday arrested the leader of a notorious armed robbery syndicate terrorizing residents in and around Ifo Local Government Area.
The suspect, Lekan Anuoluwapo, 32, was arrested along with his companion, Ajoke Kareem, 33, at around 12:40 a.m. in Oloshe local government area.
Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, told Newslodge that the suspect and his gang had been terrorizing residents of Agosi, Old Bank Area, Olomu Road, Oju-Sango, Folam, Oloshe Road, Ikorita and Ajowa communities in the Ifo axis.
Odutola claimed the syndicate was linked to several incidents, including a resident who was shot in the chest and had his valuables stolen.
She said: “Two cases of theft have been directly linked to the union. On 17 October 2025, at around 06.30am, two armed men attacked a woman who was sweeping the church premises in preparation for morning prayers and robbed her of a bag containing an unspecified amount of money.
“One Wale Adeleye, who later confessed to having committed the robbery alongside Lekan Anuoluwapo with the use of a locally made pistol, was arrested.
“Similarly, on October 25, 2025, at around 0300 hours, armed robbers attacked a resident at gunpoint and took away valuables including a power bank, an Infinix phone and a POS machine. The victim was shot in the chest when he raised an alarm during the attack. The robbers fled the scene, abandoning a locally made pistol with an empty cartridge.
“The victim identified Lekan Anuoluwapo as a suspect after his arrest. The suspect named Akpomoka Gabriel alias Akuru, 36, a resident of Ogba-Iyo, Ijoko-Ota, as his main accomplice in the series of robberies. Akpomoka Gabriel was also arrested.”
The police spokesperson revealed that the arrest had sparked spontaneous jubilation in Ijoko and Ogba-Iyo neighborhoods as residents expressed relief over the progress made in the fight against incessant attacks of armed robbery in the area.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, while commending the officers for their bravery and professionalism, ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.
He further directed the Sango-Ota and Ifo area commanders to strengthen security measures at hotspots identified during the “Ember” months to deter criminal activities and ensure the safety of lives and property.