Police intercept motorcycle, recover pistol in Oyo

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Oyo State Police Command has claimed it made an operational breakthrough on July 11, after officers intercepted a motorcycle in Bodija, Ibadan, and recovered a locally fabricated pistol.

The Command in a statement on Monday its Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, further claimed that a live cartridge and sachets of a substance suspected to be tramadol were also recovered.

“The Oyo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to curb criminal activities and the proliferation of illegal firearms across the State,” DSP Olayinka said in a statement obtained on Monday.

According to the statement, operatives attached to Bodija Housing Police Division, conducting an intelligence-led stop-and-search along Oshuntokun Avenue at about 9:30 p.m., intercepted three males on a Bajaj motorcycle with registration DTN 678 QA.

One of the occupants threw a small bag into a nearby drainage while two others fled on the motorcycle, a third suspect, identified as Hammed Lateef, was arrested.

“A search of the discarded bag led to the recovery of one locally fabricated pistol, one live cartridge, sachets of substances suspected to be Tramadol, and a passport photograph believed to belong to one of the fleeing suspects,” the PPRO said.

Investigations are ongoing and police said efforts are being intensified to identify, track and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga reaffirmed the command’s commitment to “proactive and intelligence-led policing” and urged residents to continue providing “timely and credible information to the Police.”