Police in Oyo State have arrested three suspects and recovered a firearm during a crackdown on crime. The operation also yielded vandalised cables and other stolen goods.
Deputy Superintendent Ayanlade Olayinka disclosed the breakthrough in a statement on Tuesday. He said the arrests followed a complaint from a businessman whose welding machine went missing.
Akanni Hamsat, 42, reported that thieves had stolen the equipment from his shop in Bara Apaara. Police traced the machine to a scrap dealer's premises nearby.
Officers from Durbar Division moved quickly to the location. They arrested Suhaib Abdulwahab, 30, who operates the scrap shop in Akunlemu Area.
A search of his premises turned up a locally-made pistol. Investigators also found NTA Oyo armour cables that had been vandalised on May 21.
Several car air-conditioning units suspected to be stolen property were also discovered. The items are now in police custody.
Further questioning of Abdulwahab led police to two more suspects. Kabiril Mustapha and Abdullah Abdullah, both 25 and from Akunlemu, were arrested as accomplices.
According to Ayanlade, the three men are cooperating with investigators. Police believe there may be additional suspects still at large.
Interrogation is ongoing to establish the full scope of their criminal activities. Officers are working to identify anyone else involved in the theft ring.
Oyo police say they remain committed to stamping out criminality across the state. The command has intensified operations in high-crime areas in recent weeks.
