Four suspected robbers held as police smash Ondo crime ring

Four men have been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command over their alleged involvement in an armed robbery and burglary syndicate operating in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

The arrests followed an investigation into the burglary of a cocoa store in Alade-Idanre, where a bag of cocoa worth about N1.25 million was reportedly stolen.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday. He identified the suspects as Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun and Nura Umar.

He said the operation also led to the recovery of two illegal firearms allegedly hidden by the principal suspect.

According to Jimoh, “The command has arrested four suspected armed robbers linked to a burglary syndicate operating within Idanre and its environs. The operation also led to the recovery of illegal firearms, further reinforcing the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.”

He explained that the case began after a resident, identified simply as Abayomi, reported to the Alade/Atosin Police Station on 15 June 2026 that unknown persons had broken into his cocoa store overnight and made away with a bag of cocoa valued at N1,250,000.

Jimoh said, “The investigation was triggered by a report made on 15th June, 2026, at the Alade/Atosin Police Station by one Abayomi of Alade-Idanre. The complainant reported that unknown persons had burgled his cocoa store during the night and carted away a bag of cocoa valued at N1,250,000.

“Following painstaking intelligence gathering and investigation by detectives, the perpetrators were identified as Alex Omotayo, Adeleye Bolu, Osho Ibukun, Nura Umar and other accomplices who are currently at large. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives arrested the four named suspects and commenced further investigation into the activities of the criminal gang.”

Investigators later uncovered another incident allegedly involving the principal suspect. Police said intelligence revealed that on 13 March 2026, Alex Omotayo reportedly entered the premises of Idanre High School carrying two firearms and threatened to kill a security guard whom he accused of shooting at him the previous night.

Jimoh stated that the information prompted detectives to obtain and execute a search warrant at the suspect’s residence.

He said, “This revelation further established the suspect’s violent criminal disposition and necessitated a comprehensive search of his residence. A search warrant was subsequently executed at the residence of the principal suspect, where officers recovered one cut-to-size single-barrel firearm and one locally made revolver concealed within the premises.

“The recovered weapons have been taken into police custody as exhibits and will form part of the ongoing investigation.”

The police spokesperson said the suspects and the case file had been transferred to the command’s Anti-Cultism Unit in Akure for further investigation.

He added that efforts were continuing to track down other members of the gang who remain at large and assured that everyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

Jimoh also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue providing useful information to security agencies, stressing that cooperation between the police and the public is essential to tackling crime across the state.