Three pistols, 18 cartridges recovered as police arrest robbery suspects

A coordinated police operation spanning Ogun and Lagos states has led to the arrest of two men suspected of belonging to an armed robbery syndicate, with security operatives recovering three locally made pistols and 18 live cartridges

The suspects, identified as Adeyinka Onakomaya, 46, and Olayiwola Kehinde, 48, were taken into custody by operatives of the Anti-Robbery Team of the Ogun State Police Command.

According to the command, the arrests were made following an extensive investigation that began after a red Toyota Matrix reported stolen in April 2026 was recovered by police.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said detectives followed intelligence gathered from the vehicle recovery to uncover the activities and locations of the suspects.

Investigators eventually tracked Onakomaya to the Babaode area along Idiroko Road in Ota, Ogun State, while Kehinde was apprehended in Lagos State.

Police said findings from the investigation linked the suspects to the robbery incident involving the recovered vehicle and several other cases of violent car thefts reported in Ota, Iju, Babaode and Atan communities.

A search conducted after their arrest led to the recovery of three locally fabricated pistols and 18 rounds of live cartridges.

“Upon their arrest, a thorough search led to the recovery of three locally made pistols and 18 live cartridges,” Babaseyi stated.

The police spokesperson added that both men allegedly admitted involvement in a number of armed robbery operations during questioning.

He noted that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the gang who remain at large.

Commenting on the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised the officers involved, describing the arrests as evidence of the command’s determination to pursue criminal investigations to their conclusion.

“The recovery of the firearms and the arrest of key syndicate members underscore the Command’s determination not to leave any criminal investigation incomplete,” he stated.

Ojajuni also reassured residents of the state’s commitment to tackling armed robbery and other violent crimes, urging the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies.