The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate and recovered an AK-47 rifle, 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm.

The arrests followed the theft of a newly acquired Lexus Jeep from a resident of Ada, Osun State, by armed men on Monday night.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the victim reported the incident to the police, prompting the Command’s Anti-Robbery Team to commence a pursuit using the vehicle’s tracking devices.

“The tracking operation led to the arrest of two suspects, identified as 30-year-old Johnson Friday and 28-year-old Augustine Godwin, at a filling station in Ibadan, Oyo State, while they were refuelling the stolen vehicle,” he said.

The police said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were allegedly taking the stolen Lexus Jeep to a receiver at Idiroko when they were arrested.

Ojelabi said the suspects’ statements provided information that led to the arrest of two other alleged members of the gang, Augustine Godday, 18, and Semiu Ogunlowo, 20, at Esa-Oke in Osun State.

“Further investigation based on information provided by the suspects led operatives to Ila-Orangun. An AK-47 rifle with 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm were recovered.

“The firearms were reportedly concealed inside a sack and kept behind Godwin’s room,” according to the police.

“The investigation also led to the arrest of 29-year-old Olamide Afeez, who the police described as an alleged informant to the robbery gang and a close friend of the complainant,” the statement added.

The Command said investigation was ongoing to arrest the suspected receiver at Idiroko.

The Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, CP Samuel Erale, commended the Anti-Robbery Team for its swift and professional response.

CP Erale, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police, assured residents that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.