Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover pistol, four cartridges in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Ogunmola Oluwasola, for alleged illegal possession of a firearm and recovered a cut-to-size pistol and four live cartridges from him in Owo.

Oluwasola, a resident of Idasen Street, Owo, was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad during a stop-and-search operation along the Owo-Ute Road at about 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2026.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the suspect was intercepted by operatives conducting routine patrols and stop-and-search operations along the route.

According to him, the search led to the recovery of the pistol and ammunition, while the suspect was taken into custody and the recovered items secured as exhibits.

Jimoh said the suspect’s statement had been obtained, adding that detectives were intensifying efforts to determine the source of the weapon, its intended use and whether Oluwasola was connected to any robbery, kidnapping or other criminal activities in Owo and its environs.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, commended the operatives for their vigilance and said the command would sustain intelligence-led patrols and stop-and-search operations, particularly along major highways and crime-prone areas.

Ohagwu also warned individuals involved in the illegal possession or trafficking of firearms to desist, stressing that the police and other security agencies would continue to pursue criminal elements threatening the safety of residents.

The command said the suspect remained in custody as investigations continued, with detectives working to establish his possible links to other crimes and prosecute anyone found culpable.