The Oyo State Police Command said on Friday that about 207 individuals were detained for various offences in 2023.
Adebola Hamzat, the state Commissioner of Police, revealed this while paraded another 38 crime suspects allegedly involved in various degrees of criminal activities at various locations a few days before the new year at the command headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital, saying 50 stolen vehicles and 46 motorcycles/tricycles have been recovered since January to date, while 108 firearms and 721 rounds of various calibre of ammunition have been recovered from them.
Others paraded were accused in armed robbery, kidnapping, and land grabbing.
Items recovered include six cars, English pump action, and revolver rifles, locally made guns, six mobile phones, one power generator, two motorcycles, nine firearms, 60 ammunition, local charms, and three cutlasses.
Parading the suspects on behalf of CP Hamzat, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said the suspects were picked up at their various hideouts.
He said, “As we gradually bid 2023 farewell, the CP has ordered that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department/formations, and Tactical Commanders deploy adequate personnel and resources throughout the length and breadth of the state, particularly at all critical infrastructures, recreational facilities, media houses, banks, Correctional centers, public spaces, places of worship and all adjoining highways and routes within and outside the state.
“Similarly, the CP has directed that they should increase layers of supervision around their subordinates, particularly men on the field who daily interface with commuters and other civilian populations while the Command’s Monitoring and X-squad units have been tasked to deal decisively with any officer whose actions or inactions bring about embarrassment to the Command and by extension the Police Force through extortion, incivilities, and other professional misconducts.
“In furtherance of the above, the state Police command is pleased to inform residents that within the past five months, it has recorded significant successes in reducing crime rates across the state. This was attained through a combination of intelligence-led operations, community engagements, and proactive policing.
“Within January 1st to this day, 207 armed robbery suspects were arrested, 50 stolen vehicles and 46 motorcycles/tricycles were recovered while 108 firearms and 721 rounds of various caliber of ammunition were retrieved from the possession of criminals,” he stated.