Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers over the alleged murder of their gang member following a dispute on sharing of their loot.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, disclosed this when the suspects and 14 others were paraded on Tuesday in Akure, the State Capital.
Odunlami-Omisanya said that the deceased gang member, Shahabi Jadi, was macheted to death along Ehinowo camp near Ondo town on Oct. 28.
The PPRO said, “Upon receipt of the information, Police through intelligent gathering arrested one Blessing Okon, 20.
“During interrogation, the young man gave verifiable information that led to the arrest of the following suspects, Gabriel Japhet, 26, Osha Phenus, 23, and Gbenga Timothy, aged 22 years.
“The suspect further stated that the deceased was a member of their robbery squad, but they had a scuffle when he cheated them and refused to give them their share of the proceeds of their loots.”
The PPRO said 14 other suspects were equally arrested for crimes ranging from cultism, unlawful possession of a firearm, and attempted murder.
Others are unlawful possession of human hands, rape, and unlawful possession of Indian hemp among others.
Odunlami-Omisanya said that one of the 14 suspects, a farmer, resident at Kidimo Camp in Irele, Irele Local Government Area of the Ondo state, attempted to behead his brother, Daniel Moyoloye, 35, and in the process cut off his left hand.
The Command’s PRO said, “The suspect claimed his brother accused him of stealing his Palm fruits and this led to a heated argument between them and out of anger, the former brought out a cutlass and macheted the latter’s left arm and immediately fled into the bush.”
She added that the suspect was later arrested by the police.
The police spokesperson said that on completion of ongoing police investigations, the 18 suspects would be prosecuted in court.
