Amotekun foils robbery of ₦50m iron rod trailer in Osun

— Rescues driver, apprentice during operation

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Operatives of the Osun State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, have successfully foiled an armed robbery attempt on a trailer transporting 40 tons of iron rods valued at approximately ₦50 million.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Corps, Yusuf Idowu Abass, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at the Gbongan overhead bridge along the Gbongan-Osogbo Road in Ayedaade Local Government Area of the state.

Abass explained that the trailer, which was en route from Shagamu to Osogbo, was trailed from Ikire around 1:00 a.m. by a suspicious Toyota Corolla. Upon reaching the Gbongan overhead bridge, the truck was intercepted by four armed men posing as government task force officials who demanded the vehicle’s waybill.

The driver recounted that one of the armed men said, “Let us do what we want to do quickly before people start coming out.”

Sensing danger, the driver resisted their demands. In the ensuing confrontation, he was physically assaulted while still at the wheel.

During the struggle, the robbers forcibly took the apprentice’s phone and made repeated attempts to seize control of the vehicle and the driver’s phone. However, the driver managed to push the assailants—along with the apprentice—into a nearby bush.

Seizing the opportunity, he began shouting to attract attention and fled into the bush. While in hiding, he contacted his boss, who promptly alerted the Corps Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, Chief Dr. Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele. The commander swiftly mobilized officers from the Ayedaade command, who successfully rescued both the driver and his apprentice and secured the trailer along with its 40-ton iron rod cargo.

The trailer owner, Mr. Jimoh, commended the bravery and professionalism of the Amotekun officers. He appealed to the Osun State Government to further equip and support the corps to enable them to carry out their duties more effectively.