Police intercept arms-laden car, suspected killers in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command on Thursday said it intercepted a vehicle conveying a large volume of explosive devices, deadly weapons and allied materials along the Podo- Ijebu-Ode road in Ibadan.


The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, said this while briefing reporters at the state Police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

He said the three occupants of a Nissan Sunny, marked OGUN XC 863 AKM, and painted in Ogun State commercial colour, escaped into the bush.

Indabawa said, “On August 11, 2013 at 3.15am, a police patrol team along Podo-Ijebu Ode intercepted a taxi with three occupants, whom they flagged down but refused to stop and sped off.

“After a hot chase, the occupants of the vehicle escaped into a nearby bush while the vehicle was abandoned.

“Items that were recovered were six cartons of explosive powder, two cartons of solar detonating cords, 16 bundles of wires and delay detonator wires.”

According to him, the explosives were stolen from a quarry at the toll gate on August 8. He, however, said the police would investigate further the motive behind the conveyance of the explosives.

Also paraded was a suspected hired assassin, Ikechukwu Christopher.

The CP said a photograph of a woman, that the suspect was detailed to kill, and a locally-made single barrel pistol, loaded with one cartridge, were recovered from him at the time of his arrest.

He said, “The suspect confessed that he was contracted by one Adenola Adeniyi and Arowolo Lateef to kill one Mrs. Ololade Abidoye.

“Based on his confession, the said Adenola was arrested and he too corroborated the statement made by Ikechukwu and added that he was hired by Arowolo at the rate of N80,000.”

The CP quoted the suspect as saying that the first wife of the man contracted him to get hired assassins to kill the junior wife.

Arowolo, who denied the allegation that he was instigated to kill, told reporters that he was the guard to the man whose wife was to be killed.

“The man is fond of beating and maltreating the first wife,” he said.

Christopher said his boss in Enugu (name not given) detailed him to kill, adding, “But, when I was going, the police stopped me and found the pistol I was carrying. I was arrested and taken to police custody.”

The third suspect (Adeniyi) said, “I was working in Ago Iwoye as a timber contractor when my business went under and Arowolo offered to help. He gave me a motorcycle to work with without collecting any money from