Five Robbery, Murder, Kidnapping Suspects Arrested In Osun
The Osun State Police Command has apprehended five suspects alleged to be involved in a series of serious crimes ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to car theft, cultism, and murder.
Disclosing this in a statement issued in Osogbo, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that several stolen items were recovered during the operations, including firearms, stolen vehicles, mobile phones, and other valuables.
Items recovered from the suspects include a black Lexus Jeep with registration number GGE 197 JJ, a silver Toyota Camry (Muscle) with registration number BDG 684 HW, a 3½ bed frame, 3½ mattress, four locally made single-barrel guns, one cut-to-size double-barrel gun, two Nokia C32 Android phones, and some important documents.
The arrested suspects were identified as Michael Ojo (27), Dotun Olumide (34), Adeboye Damilare Blessing (23), Taiwo Awoniran (28), and Onah David (29).
According to DSP Ojelabi, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Squad, acting on credible intelligence, on July 11, 2025, arrested Michael Ojo in Ilesa with the stolen black Lexus Jeep, car keys, and relevant documents in his possession.
Further investigations, he said, revealed that Ojo had led an armed gang to Akungba in Ondo State on June 20, 2025, where they reportedly kidnapped and murdered two individuals—Mr. Abah John Friday and Ms. Okah Andrel—before making away with their Lexus Jeep, iPhones, and other belongings.
In a related development, on July 10, 2025, officers of the Prompt Response Unit attached to the Ikire Area Command intercepted a suspicious Toyota Camry vehicle. The driver, Dotun Olumide, attempted to flee but was eventually arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to stealing the vehicle along with the bed frame and mattress from Poget Care Homes Foundation in Badagry, Lagos State, where he had been employed as a security guard. The organisation later confirmed the theft.
Also, on June 22, 2025, another suspect, Adeboye Damilare, was arrested after he attempted to rob a boutique owner at Obalufon Street in Ile-Ife with a locally made pistol. Although he fired a shot during the attack, the victim escaped unhurt and raised the alarm, leading to the suspect’s arrest. During interrogation, Damilare confessed that he bought the pistol for ₦60,000 from one Taiwo Awoniran, who was later arrested on June 27, 2025, in Modakeke. Upon his arrest, police recovered three additional locally made firearms from Awoniran.
The Command’s spokesperson also revealed that on April 25, 2025, a complainant reported that her Nokia C32 phone had been stolen while it was being charged at a friend’s house in the Akile area of Ila-Orangun. A thorough investigation led to the arrest of Onah David on July 12, 2025, who was found in possession of the stolen phone and a cut-to-size double-barrel gun.
DSP Ojelabi stated that all five suspects are currently in police custody and would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Gotan, lauded the coordinated efforts of the various units of the Command in ensuring the safety and security of residents.
“We urge the good people of Osun to remain vigilant and work closely with the police. Together, we can ensure Osun remains a safe haven for all,” he stated.
The CP also appealed to members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to assist the police in ridding the state of criminal elements.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
