The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a passenger allegedly found with a locally made pistol and a live cartridge in a commercial bus along the Ibadan–Ife Road.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
According to the PPRO, the suspect, identified as Emmanuel Kingsley Odoh, was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. on September 25 during an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation by operatives of the Command’s Safer Highway Patrol around Ajia Junction.
Ayanlade said the officers intercepted a white-coloured Mazda bus driven by Sanusi Afeez Adedamola, a male resident of Owena, travelling from Ibadan towards Ondo State.
He said a search of the vehicle led to the arrest of Odoh, one of the passengers, after a locally made pistol and a live cartridge were allegedly found in his possession.
The PPRO said the recovered firearm and ammunition were secured as exhibits, while the suspect was taken into custody for further investigation.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, had directed that the case be transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for discreet investigation.
According to him, the VCRU was also mandated to arrest other members of the suspected syndicate and ensure their prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Ayanlade said the arrest underscored the importance of sustained intelligence-led stop-and-search operations, particularly along major highways and other identified routes.
He said such operations, when professionally conducted, would help detect and remove firearms and other prohibited items from circulation, disrupt the movement of criminal elements and generate actionable intelligence for broader crime-prevention efforts.
The PPRO assured commuters and residents across the state of the Command’s continued commitment to their safety, saying proactive patrols, intelligence-led stop-and-search operations and other strategic measures would be sustained to prevent crime and maintain public safety.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely and actionable information that could assist in preventing crime across the state.
