Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 21 suspects for various criminal offences including the hijacking of vehicles, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and other related vices.
Armed weapons, uniforms from the military, and a truckload of various brand motor engines were discovered in the possession of the suspects.
Parading the suspects before the newsmen on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso stated that a syndicate that specialised in the hijacking of trucks loaded with goods was apprehended with automobile engines worth N20 million.
Osifeso added that the suspects were apprehended after attacking one Jamiu Abdulahi and stealing his Mistubishi Canter bus.
The suspects, according to the police were arrested in their hideout at the Iyana Offa area, Ibadan with 40 pieces of a vehicle engine and one Mazda bus with registration number KJA 777 XC and one Bajaj motorcycle which they used for the criminal activity were recovered from the suspects.
In a similar development, the police discovered a make-shift armoury/criminal hideout at Oki Village off Iseyin/Ibadan road.
At the criminal hideout, the following items were recovered: 194 pieces of live AK ammunition, five pairs of military camouflage, one small Itel cell phone, one cutlass, four hoes and three torches.
Also, the police intercepted a criminal gang whose mode of operation was to disguise as military officers by wearing military uniforms and other accoutrements to attack and rob unsuspecting members of the public at Ajoda and Egbeda axis in Ibadan.
According to reports, the prime suspect, (name withheld) at the time of arrest had in his possession a single-barrel gun.