Oyo police arrest suspected armed robber, recover stolen motorcycle
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a stolen motorcycle after an alleged attack on a commercial motorcyclist in the Apata area of Ibadan.
The command said the arrest followed a tip-off from a public-spirited resident who reported that a passenger had attacked the motorcyclist, Muhammadu Kamilu, with an iron hammer before escaping with his Bajaj Boxer motorcycle. The police disclosed this in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
Following the report, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit were deployed to the area. The team tracked down and arrested the suspect, identified as Shafiu Nuhu, during the operation.
Police officers also recovered the stolen Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number AJW 842 QU. The iron hammer allegedly used to carry out the attack was equally recovered as evidence.
Meanwhile, Kamilu sustained injuries during the assault. A passerby, Nathaniel Ibrahim, who tried to rescue the victim, was also injured. Both men were taken to a nearby hospital, where they received treatment.
According to the police, the suspect confessed during interrogation to operating as a lone robber who targeted commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan and nearby communities. The command said investigations are ongoing to establish his involvement in other robbery cases and recover any additional exhibits linked to his activities.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the informant and other residents whose timely information helped officers apprehend the suspect. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious persons and activities to the police.
The Oyo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state. It added that intelligence-led and proactive policing would remain central to its efforts to combat crime and bring offenders to justice.
