The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of some suspected hoodlums and political thugs in Osogbo, the state capital.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, who made this known during a press conference on Tuesday at the police headquarters, Osogbo, said the arrests formed part of recent operational successes recorded by the command in its efforts to maintain law and order across the state.

Represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the police commissioner recalled that on Monday, July 20, 2026, a protest by a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, erupted after members alleged that their vehicles were prevented from entering a motor park by a rival faction, leading to clashes in Osogbo.

He said officers responded promptly to the disturbance and restored normalcy before another security incident was reported later the same day at Oke-Ijetu area of Osogbo.

The commissioner said a distress call received at about 5:30 p.m. indicated that a group of armed hoodlums were shooting sporadically in the area. Personnel of the Anti-Robbery and Violent Crime Response Unit were immediately deployed to the scene.

“The suspected hoodlums, believed to be members of a faction linked to one Wakili Alowonle, allegedly opened fire on the responding police team, leaving three security operatives with gunshot injuries. The injured officers, he said, are receiving treatment in hospital.”

Gotan said one suspect, identified as Adedeji Saheed Opeyemi, aged 40 years, was arrested during the operation. The suspect allegedly confessed that he was invited to the scene by one Sibi, who reportedly handed him a pump-action gun after receiving instructions from Alowonle.

“He is assisting the police with investigation for possible arrest of others at large. The exhibits recovered include six expended cartridges, four vehicles, four motorcycles, military camouflage and suspected criminal charms.”

The commissioner also disclosed that police detectives arrested two suspected political thugs, 26 years old Alawode Ridwan and 33 years old Ajibade Ahmed, following a distress call alleging that they were causing unrest around the Amadia area of Osogbo on July 16, 2026.

According to him, “the suspects were apprehended shortly after officers responded to the report. All suspects will be charged to court after the completion of investigation”.

In another operation, the command disclosed that it arrested three suspects over the alleged theft of a Bajaj motorcycle stolen from a commercial rider at Osunjela area of Osogbo on July 19.

“Through intelligence-led policing, officers traced the motorcycle to Modakeke, where it was recovered about two hours after the report was made, “the statement disclosed.

The suspects were identified as 39 year old Kamarudeen Babatunde, 22 year old Lekan Usman, and an alleged receiver, 40 years old Moses Oyebade of Ondo town, Ondo State.

The commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements adding that, “The public should give prompt and credible information to the Police. Also, they should be alert on what is happening around them and report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.”

Troops of the Nigerian Army have foiled a bandit attack on Unguwar Fadi community in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, forcing the attackers to flee before they could launch a major assault.

The incident was disclosed in a post shared on X by security analyst Bakatsine on Tuesday.

According to the post, the bandits invaded the community on Monday night but abandoned the attack after troops of the 17 Brigade responded swiftly to a distress call.

The rapid military intervention reportedly prevented what could have resulted in more casualties and destruction.

However, one resident, identified as Usman Shitu, popularly known as Abba Shago, was shot during the attack and later died from the injuries he sustained.

“Last night, bandits attempted to attack Unguwar Fadi community in Funtua LGA of Katsina State but were forced to flee after troops responded swiftly to distress calls. The rapid intervention prevented what could have been a much larger tragedy.

“Sadly, one resident, Usman Shitu, popularly known as Abba Shago, was shot during the attack and later succumbed to his injuries,” Bakatsine wrote.

The Niger State Police Command has arrested four suspects in separate operations, recovering three plastic pistols, 16 ATM cards and a vehicle allegedly stolen in Lapai, Lapai local government area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Abiodun said a surveillance patrol team attached to the Tudun-Wada Division arrested Zaradeen Sani, 19, of Bosso, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, of Maitumbi, at about 11 p.m. on July 14 along the M.I. Wushishi Estate Junction in Minna.

He said the suspects were intercepted in a tricycle, and a search led to the recovery of three plastic pistols and 16 expired ATM cards belonging to different banks

.

According to the police, the suspects claimed the ATM cards were picked from the ground while scavenging in Lagos.

However, Police investigators suspect they had been using the toy guns to rob unsuspecting residents around the M.I. Wushishi Estate area.

In a separate operation, police took over two suspected car thieves from the Kano State Police Command after they allegedly confessed to stealing a Volkswagen vehicle in Lapai, Niger State.

The suspects, identified as Dauda Saidu, 23, of Dindare village in Tofa area of Kaduna State, and Hassan Aliyu, 28, of Faki, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, allegedly admitted stealing the vehicle about six months ago at Maraban-Gulu via Lapai.

The Police PRO  said the suspects took the vehicle to Kaduna State, where they allegedly used it for commercial transportation between Kaduna and Kano and in other criminal activities.

The stolen Volkswagen has since been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to trace its rightful owner.

SP Abiodun further stated that both cases are under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).