The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate accused of hijacking containers and diverting goods worth about ₦100 million in Ibadan.

Police said the suspects were apprehended after weeks of surveillance at a hideout around the Genesis Hotel area in Challenge, where operatives recovered a large cache of suspected stolen items, including 40 air conditioners, wigs and creams.

Others include 10 washing machines, an electric motorcycle, trailer spare parts, cutting machines, LED lights, furniture gum, and other household and industrial materials.

According to the command, the syndicate operated across state lines and specialised in hijacking containers at gunpoint before diverting their contents.

The suspects were said to have confessed to their roles and are assisting investigators to track other members still at large.

The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended operatives for the operation and urged residents to sustain cooperation with the police through timely intelligence sharing. He also advised hotel operators to report suspicious activities, noting that criminal groups often use hotels to plan operations.

Police said the management of the hotel linked to the suspects has been invited for questioning as investigations continue.

The command added that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property in the state. (The Nation)

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