Three arrested over fatal Ibadan robbery, Oyo police say
Oyo State police have arrested three men suspected of belonging to an armed robbery gang accused of killing a woman during a raid in Ibadan. Police said the suspects were identified by surviving victims and allegedly confessed to participating in the attack, while investigations continue for other gang members.
Oyo State police have arrested three suspected members of an armed robbery gang accused of killing a woman during an attack in Ibadan’s Wofun Olodo area. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said in a statement on Saturday that the suspects were arrested after an investigation into the August 4 attack. The victim was identified as 44-year-old Mrs Wahab Rukayat.
According to the police, the robbery occurred at about 2:30am at the residence of Alhaji Olatokunbo. Rukayat was killed and other occupants were seriously injured, the command said. The police alleged that the attackers stole several mobile phones, wristwatches, $400 and other valuables estimated at N3.493m.
Following the incident, Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga directed that the case be transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for investigation. The command said VCRU operatives, acting on intelligence and using technology, arrested Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28; Okunola Mathew, 24; and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23, at a suspected hideout in Sabo, Ibadan, at about 9pm on October 2. An iPhone 7 Plus belonging to one of the victims was recovered, according to the police.
The command also said surviving victims identified the three men during an identification parade. Police said the suspects confessed to their alleged roles in the robbery, including the collection of the money and the killing of Rukayat. They also reportedly admitted involvement in other robberies around Wofun Olodo and Akobo.
The commissioner directed officers to pursue other alleged gang members and people suspected of receiving or disposing of stolen proceeds.
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