The Oyo State Police Command has thwarted a planned bandit attack on Elebe Village in Aleniboro, via Irawo Mine, Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing two suspected members of the armed group during a gun duel.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Ibadan. He said the operation followed credible intelligence provided by a concerned resident, who alerted security operatives to the presence of about 10 armed men hiding in a farm settlement within Elebe Village.
According to the police, the suspects were allegedly planning to launch an attack on the community under the cover of darkness. They were reportedly armed with two AK-47 rifles, single-barrel guns and locally made pistols.
Ayanlade said upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer in Tede informed the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, who immediately ordered the deployment of additional operational teams to the area.
Police officers, working alongside members of the Agbekoya vigilante group and local hunters in Aleniboro, moved swiftly to the identified hideout.
On sighting the advancing security team, the suspected bandits reportedly opened fire, leading to a gun battle. Two of the suspects were killed in the exchange, while others fled into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
A reinforcement team later combed the area and recovered one cut-to-size locally made pistol, empty and live cartridges, two expended 7.62mm AK-47 shells, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, two mobile phones and a bottle containing a substance believed to be a mixed drink.
The police said the area has since been secured, with ongoing surveillance and bush-combing operations aimed at tracking down the fleeing suspects and preventing further threats to Elebe Village and neighbouring communities.
The Commissioner of Police commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for continued logistical and strategic support to the command.
The police also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against criminal activities across the state.
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