2 dismissed military officers arrested for armed robbery in Oyo

Thursday, January 29, 2026 - The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two dismissed Nigerian Army personnel for their alleged involvement in armed robbery operations within the state.

The arrest was disclosed on Wednesday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement made available to journalists.

Ayanlade said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence and an intense manhunt, which culminated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation carried out within the Ibadan metropolis by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit.

He said, “In furtherance of the command’s sustained efforts to combat violent crime and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit recorded a significant operational success with the arrest of two notorious armed robbery suspects.”

The suspects were identified as David Okhaie (48), of the Ojoo area of Ibadan, a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army who allegedly paraded himself as an army captain, and Balogun Afolabi (43), of the Wakajaiye area of Ibadan, also a dismissed army corporal.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects specialised in dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their vehicles at gunpoint, thereby creating fear and disrupting public peace in the state.

Ayanlade disclosed that a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a black Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 253 KC; a metallic Toyota Corolla with registration number JTA 938 AA; a silver Lexus RX 350 (unregistered); and a black Super Cargo motorcycle with registration number YRE 487 VD.

He added that both suspects confessed to the crimes and were currently providing useful information to assist ongoing investigations, with a view to arresting other members of the suspected robbery syndicate and recovering additional stolen items.

The police spokesman urged members of the public who may have lost their vehicles to robbery or theft, and whose vehicle descriptions match the recovered exhibits, to report to the Oyo State Police Command with valid proof of ownership and means of identification for verification and possible recovery.

The command reassured residents of its unwavering commitment to the fight against crime and criminality, while encouraging citizens to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.