Following Sunday’s foiled armed robbery in Ota, during which police operatives killed a suspected robber and recovered two vehicles, the Ogun State Police Command has recovered an AK-47 rifle and two rounds of ammunition concealed in an unregistered Mercedes-Benz GLK in a follow-up operation.
The latest recovery was announced by the command on Monday in a statement by its spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, who said a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the rifle and two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
“The Ogun State Police Command has recorded another operational success in its ongoing policing efforts in Ota, with the recovery of a Mercedes-Benz GLK, an AK-47 rifle and two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, further strengthening ongoing investigations,” the statement said.
Babaseyi added: “A search of the unregistered Mercedes-Benz GLK led to the discovery of the AK-47 rifle and two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The vehicle and recovered exhibits have been secured, while investigation continues.”
The development followed an operation by operatives of the Onipanu Division, under the Ota Area Command, in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, after they received a distress call about a robbery incident in Ijaba, Iyesi, Ota.
According to the police, the patrol team arrived at the scene at about 1.45 a.m., but the suspected robbers opened fire on sighting the operatives, prompting a gun battle.
“The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted in the neutralisation of one suspect, while other gang members fled with suspected gunshot injuries,” the statement said.
A search of the scene led to the recovery of a Nissan Almera and a Toyota Camry, alongside suspected stolen items, including HP and Dell laptops, a PlayStation console, four mobile phones, a Samsung television, a standing fan, a rechargeable radio and a Wi-Fi device.
Other recovered items included clothing, an OPay ATM card, a deck, two MP devices and other household items.
The police also recovered a locally made pistol, two live cartridges and seven expended cartridges from the deceased suspect. Other items found on him included a Tecno mobile phone, three passport photographs, an MTN SIM pack, two National Identification Number cards and cash.
The command said it had intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects, particularly those who might have sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter. It also said investigations were ongoing to establish the ownership of the recovered vehicles and other exhibits and determine their possible links to other criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their prompt response, vigilance and professionalism, while reaffirming the command’s commitment to proactive policing and the protection of lives and property.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements and activities, noting that timely and credible information from the public remained essential to crime prevention and community safety.
