By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA — Ogun State Police Command has arrested three Fulani herdsmen a few weeks after they had allegedly robbed the residents of Atoba Estate in Sabo area of Abeokuta of their belongings.

The command said its operatives attached to Ilupeju Sabo Division arrested the suspects who were identified as Haruna Ibrahim,Usman Burani, and Haruna Usman.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi  in a statement, said members of the community,who had placed the suspects under surveillance, sighted them while rearing their cattle around the area and were able to identify them as those that robbed them.

“The community leaders contacted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, CSP Gbenga Megbope,who led a team of his anti-robbery team to the scene where the suspected robbers were arrested.

“The arrested herdsmen led police to their hideout in a jungle called Igbo Olodumare along Igboora Road, Ogun State where other two Fulani herdsmen were arrested and guns with cartridges were recovered from them. Other weapons recovered included cutlasses, expended cartridges and assorted charms.

According to the PPRO, the state’s acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Haliru Gwandu, has directed that the matter be immediately transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for a thorough investigation.

He also assured the people of the state of adequate protection of lives and property, adding that the command will not relent in its efforts to achieve effective policing of the state .

Three suspected robbers

Meanwhile, the joint team of the State Police Command and OP MESA attached to 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta has arrested three susspected robbers at Ibafo area of the state who snatched a Toyota Highlander SUV at Festac Town, Lagos, on February 4.

The suspected robbers, who were on high speed after the operation along Lagos-Ibadan expressway were intercepted by the team who was on routine patrol along the expressway.

The PPRO explained that the team forced the vehicle to a stop when they noticed the suspicious attitude of the occupants.

According to him, the suspected robbers had kidnapped the owner of the car (name withheld) and dropped him along the road.

He said: “The vehicle was demobilised and stopped at a point along the expressway but the suspects hired a rewire man (technician) to start the engine again where they continued their movement before the arrest.

“Amuche Chukwuemeka, 22, who is a graduate of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, is the ring leader; Blessing Edottie, 26, from Bayelsa State and Santos Peter, 25, from Delta State, all graduates, were all arrested.