The Ogun State Police Command has foiled a midnight robbery operation in Ota, killing one suspected armed robber and recovering two vehicles, a locally made pistol and several suspected stolen items.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying operatives of the Onipanu Division under the Ota Area Command responded swiftly to a distress call from Ijaba, Iyesi, Ota, at about 1:45 a.m. on Sunday.
According to him, the robbers opened fire on the patrol team on sighting the officers, forcing the police to engage them in a gun duel that left one suspect dead, while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
He said a search of the scene led to the recovery of a Nissan Almera and a Toyota Camry, as well as suspected stolen property, including HP and Dell laptops, a PlayStation console, four mobile phones, a Samsung television, a standing fan, a rechargeable radio, a Wi-Fi device, clothing, an OPay ATM card, a deck, two MP devices and other household items.
Babaseyi added that police also recovered a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, seven expended cartridges, a Tecno phone, three passport photographs, an MTN SIM pack, two National Identification Number (NIN) cards and cash from the deceased suspect.
He said efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing gang members, especially those believed to have sustained gunshot injuries, while investigations continued to identify the owners of the recovered vehicles and other exhibits and determine whether they were linked to other criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers for their bravery, professionalism and prompt response during the operation.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, regular patrols and rapid response to security threats, urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
The Commissioner also assured residents that the Command remained committed to protecting lives and property, stressing that public cooperation through timely and credible information was vital to effective crime prevention and community safety.
