The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate following the theft of a newly acquired Lexus SUV in Ada, Osun State. The police also recovered an AK-47 rifle, 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm allegedly linked to the robbery operation.

The incident was reported on August 17 after armed men allegedly stole the vehicle overnight. Police said its Anti-Robbery Team used the vehicle’s tracking device to trace it to a filling station in Ibadan, Oyo State, where 30-year-old Johnson Friday and 28-year-old Augustine Godwin were arrested while allegedly refuelling the SUV.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were taking the stolen vehicle to a receiver in Idiroko. Information obtained from the two suspects reportedly led to the arrest of 18-year-old Augustine Godday and 20-year-old Semiu Ogunlowo in Esa-Oke. A further investigation led officers to Ila-Orangun, where the firearms were allegedly found concealed in a sack behind Godwin’s room.

Police also arrested 29-year-old Olamide Afeez, who was described as an alleged informant for the robbery gang and a close friend of the complainant. The command said investigations are ongoing to arrest the suspected receiver in Idiroko, while urging residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies.