No fewer than four suspects were arrested during a raid of some dark spots in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in an exclusive telephone interview with PUNCH Online on Saturday, disclosed that the midnight raid was part of the command’s effort to rid the state of criminal elements.
Odutola noted that the raid followed credible intelligence that some criminal suspects were using the places as hideouts and meeting points to perpetuate criminal activities.
The PPRO noted that following a directive from the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, the Divisional Police Officer in Lafenwa led some of his men to the hideouts, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
She said, “The raid, based on intelligence, targeted criminal hideouts and meeting points such as Olomore, Brewery, Soyoye, Idi Mango, Idiya Rounda, Mile 2, Lafenwa Market, and Ita Oshin on 17/05/2024 at about 23:00 hrs.
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“During the operation, four suspects and a tricycle with registration number SSU 685 QE were apprehended and taken to the station for questioning.”
The PPRO disclosed further that the suspects would be screened and investigated, adding that those found culpable would be prosecuted.
“Those found guilty will face legal action soon. The area remains calm as monitoring, raids, intelligence testing, stop-and-search, and patrols continue.,” she said.
She added that the command would not relent in its raid of criminal hideouts, shanties, and makeshift houses.
“The Ogun State Police Command has continued in aggressive raids of criminal gangs, hideouts, and dislodging shanties where criminals build makeshift houses without fixed addresses to evade being arrested.
“Areas such as Kemta, Lafenwa, Ibafo, Obalende, and Sagamu, remain under interminable surveillance and monitoring through the directives of the CP, Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha, who issued an order on Friday, May 17, that Divisional Police Officers should arrest scavengers who steal and damage IBDEC transformers and charge them to court,” Odutola disclosed.
She also stated that the command would also clamp down on drivers found driving unregistered vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles.
