Ogun Police arrest father, son, three others over illegal firearms possession

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested five suspects, including a father and his teenage son, during a series of intelligence-led operations targeting illegal arms possession and criminal activities across the state.

The police also recovered four locally made firearms, live cartridges, charms, and other exhibits during coordinated stop-and-search operations carried out in different parts of Ogun State.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, one of the major breakthroughs occurred along the Sagamu-Ogijo Road during a late-night operation by operatives of the command’s Quick Response Squad (QRS).

Police said officers intercepted a commercial tricycle at the Lafarge area and discovered a locally made pistol, a live cartridge, and a face mask in the possession of a 13-year-old boy identified as John Joseph.

During interrogation, the teenager reportedly told investigators that the firearm belonged to his father, identified as 38-year-old Joseph Kehinde. The disclosure led to the father’s arrest shortly after intensified tracking efforts by the police.

“The suspect claimed the firearm belonged to his father. Following this disclosure, operatives intensified tracking efforts, leading to the swift arrest of his father,” the police spokesperson stated.

In a separate operation at Mowe Bus Stop, operatives attached to the Mowe Division arrested 36-year-old Opeyemi Anuoluwapo following intelligence reports about suspicious movements around the commercial area.

Police recovered a locally made single-barrel pistol, an expended cartridge, and suspected cult-related charms from the suspect. During questioning, Anuoluwapo allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye confraternity.

Further operations at the Lafarge checkpoint along the Sagamu-Ogijo axis led to the arrest of two additional suspects.

The police identified them as Ashaye Ajibola, 30, who was allegedly found with a locally made single-barrel gun loaded with nine live cartridges, and Adedeji Olufemi, 49, who was reportedly arrested with a locally made double-barrel gun containing eight cartridges.

According to the command, neither suspect was able to provide valid licenses or satisfactory explanations regarding possession of the firearms.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers involved in the operations and reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling illegal arms possession, cultism, and violent crimes across the state.

Police authorities said all suspects and recovered exhibits have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution.

The command also urged residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies to aid ongoing anti-crime operations across Ogun State.