Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a notorious gunrunner and local arms fabricator, alleged to be a major supplier of firearms to criminal gangs operating across Ondo, Osun, Kogi, Edo, and Kwara states.
The suspect was apprehended alongside three others who had long been on the police wanted list.
The spokesperson of the command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, September 25, 2025, described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the fight against violent crime in the region.
He explained that the suspect’s network extended beyond Ondo, fueling armed robbery and violent crimes across state lines.
Four suspects linked to the case have already been arraigned on charges of armed robbery and attempted murder, while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The breakthrough followed an armed robbery in Irele town, where a woman was shot in the leg and dispossessed of her motorcycle, N250,000, and other valuables.
Swift police action led to arrests in Irele and Ore, culminating in the capture of the gunrunner.
Ayanlade reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to rid Ondo of criminal elements, assuring residents that credible information provided to security agencies would be treated with utmost confidentiality.