The Oyo State Police Command on Monday said it thwarted a planned attack by suspected bandits at Elebe Village, Aleniboro, via Irawo Mine in Atisbo Local Government Area of the state, neutralising two members of the group during a gun battle.
In a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that the operation was carried out following credible intelligence provided by a concerned resident. According to him, the informant alerted security operatives to the presence of about 10 armed men who had reportedly hidden in a farm settlement within Elebe Village with plans to launch an attack under the cover of darkness.
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, police operatives moved to the location, leading to a confrontation that resulted in the death of two of the suspects, while others reportedly fled the scene. Security personnel are said to be combing the surrounding areas to apprehend the remaining members of the group.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns in the state. Last Thursday, a 12-year-old student of a private secondary school was abducted in Ibadan by unidentified gunmen.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the kidnappers, who were masked, drove a vehicle without registration plates and fired shots into the air to disperse road users and passersby before whisking the victim away.
Police authorities have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of communities and to track down criminal elements operating within the state.
