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Kazeem Awojoodu
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects for the unlawful possession of 250 live cartridges in a major breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition across the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to the statement, the suspects, identified as Ganiyu Sodiq, 35, and Salaudeen Sheriff, 23, both residents of Komu, were arrested on June 10, 2026, following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance operations by operatives of the Command.
The suspects were apprehended at Budo Pako, Oke-Oyan, where officers recovered a total of 250 live cartridges from their possession.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects failed to provide any lawful explanation for possessing the ammunition. Further findings indicated that they may be involved in the illegal trafficking and supply of ammunition to criminal elements operating within and outside Oyo State.
The police said ongoing intelligence-led investigations are focused on uncovering the wider network behind the operation, identifying possible collaborators, and tracing the source and intended destination of the recovered cartridges.
The suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition, describing them as major enablers of violent crimes.
He assured residents that all lawful measures are being deployed to identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals involved in criminal activities.
The Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and actionable information to the police, stressing that community support remains crucial in the fight against crime and criminality.
