The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended no fewer than nine suspected robbers, ritualists, and members of the Aye confraternity in separate operations on Friday.

The command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro on Saturday, said a raid in Ogijo and another stop-and-search routine operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway led to Friday’s arrest.

Speaking on the stop-and-search operation, Odutola said a team attached to the Quick Response Squad on a special duty, led by Inspector Adewale Adetunji, arrested 35-year-old Eri Badmus and 24-year-old Segun Ogunyem.

PUNCH Metro learnt that both male suspects were said to have been apprehended by the squad at a stop-and-search point along the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway by the rail line on Friday.

The police said upon searching their travelling bags, items such as various criminal charms, human hair, a live tortoise, and a native bathing sponge were discovered.

In addition, Odutola revealed that there was a report of a motorcycle robbery attempt from the Agbado Division, resulting in the arrest of three other suspects.

She said, “The arrest of suspected robbers today, 01/03/2024 at about 0430hrs. One Hassan Adamu, residing in Onipenaku Arepo Ijoko, visited the station and reported an incident that occurred on 29/02/2024 at 2330hrs, where he was attacked by Garfaru Olamide (27 years), Suleman Ademigbe (29 years), and Michael Oladimeji (30 years) on his way home between Fadunsin and Kajola road.”

She added that the suspects were believed to have used two axes and a flashlight, causing injuries to Adamu in an attempt to forcefully take his motorcycle away.

Odutola noted that the victim was rescued and the three suspects were apprehended and immediately arrested before they could escape.

Following credible information, our correspondent learnt that some suspected cultists believed to have been terrorising the Oke-Imuti community area in Ogijo had been arrested.

The police said the suspects had assembled themselves to unleash terror on the community before they were apprehended.

The suspects include Matthew Babalola, Sulaiman Yusuf, Wilson Osemere and Olajide Oluwatobi.

Odutola said, “Our tactical team immediately rushed to the area before the suspects could unleash terror on the community. We apprehended four of the suspects. All the four suspects have confessed to being members of Aiye Confraternity. We recovered short cutlasses from them. They will soon be transferred to the command headquarters for investigations.”

According to the Ogun State Crime Statistics exclusively obtained by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, robbery cases surged within the month under review until December 2023.

Analysis of the data showed that about 20 suspected robbers were arrested in January 2024, compared to 21 robbery suspects nabbed by the command in the preceding month.

Too bad