Ondo Police Arrest Two Suspects, Recover Locally Made Guns In Akure

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two men in separate security operations in Akure, the state capital, and recovered two locally made firearms suspected to be linked to criminal activities.

The suspects, identified as Oliver Bamidele, 32, and Levis Prince, 35, were arrested on October 13 and October 19, respectively, by operatives attached to the B Division Surveillance Patrol Team and Okuta Elerinla Division.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to curb armed robbery and other violent crimes across the state.

According to the statement, Bamidele was intercepted along the Idanre Road axis of Akure on October 13 during a routine stop-and-search operation.

A search reportedly conducted on him led to the recovery of a locally made, cut-to-size firearm concealed in his possession.

The police said the suspect was subsequently taken into custody and admitted ownership of the weapon. Further investigations, the command added, would establish how he obtained the firearm and his intended use for it.

In a separate operation on October 19, police operatives patrolling the Madam Do Good area of Oyemekun Road, Akure, intercepted two individuals travelling on a blue TVS motorcycle.

A search reportedly led to the recovery of another locally made pistol, while one of the individuals escaped. Prince was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.

The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and determine whether the recovered firearms were connected to other criminal activities in the state.

Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against crime.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening security through intelligence gathering, regular patrols and stop-and-search operations.

Ohagwu also urged residents to support security agencies by providing credible and useful information that could assist in preventing crime and apprehending criminal suspects.

He assured residents that the command would continue to intensify efforts to protect lives and property across Ondo State.