Father, son arrested for robbery

Police IG, Hafiz Ringim

The police in Ondo State said on Wednesday that nine persons, including a 65-year-old man, had been arrested for armed robbery.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Magaji, also said nine exotic cars were recovered from a gang of kidnappers who allegedly confessed they had terrorised the people of Ondo, Delta and Rivers states.

Magaji added that N3.3m was recovered from the gang which he alleged robbed a bank in Ore last month.

According to Magaji, the 65-year-old man, Isaac Suleiman, his son, Seun, and two others were arrested in connection with various robberies in Akungba-Akoko.

Suleiman, who claimed to be a night guard, denied being an armed robber.

However, he admitted that his son gave his gun to a friend, Mr. Kayode Ariyo, believed to be a notorious armed robber.

Ariyo confessed to our correspondent that he became an armed robber because he had nobody to take care of him

Magaji claimed the suspects had on them, locally made pistols, AK 49 rifles, one mask and one HP laptop.

The commissioner said a 419 syndicate in the state was also smashed.

He added that no fewer than 11 exotic cars, ammunition and charms were recovered from the suspects at their hide-out in Port Harcourt.

Magaji said one Ogenekwweh Igagah, the leader of the syndicate, was arrested, adding that the gang had been collecting ransom from their victims.

He said they also robbed their victims at gunpoint and later sold the cars at cheaper rates to a car dealer based in Port Harcourt.

The vehicles recovered from the suspects included one Toyota Avensis belonging to the Ekiti State Government, one black Infinity Jeep, one Toyota Sienna Honda Accord, Toyota Camry – 2003 model, two Toyota Camry – 2000 model, one Toyota Corolla and one Honda Pilot Jeep.

He also said one Mercedes Benz 190, one Honda car with number plate Rivers ET 726 PHC, five AK 49 riffles with 11 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the robbers.

Magaji added that the command on October 21 arrested one Funso Ajewole, who was alleged to have duped his victim of N78,000. He said the arrest led to Ajewole’s arrest of Messrs Ayeni Kehinde, Segun Akinola and Gabriel Adeniyi.