Twenty-four days after thugs attacked a popular phone market, Tarmac, in Abeokuta, police said three suspects have been detained over the incident.
On April 12, the criminals attacked the facility, shooting dead a merchant, destroying property, and stealing phones and laptops.
However, some witnesses said they were members of a cult gang that was persecuting a rival gang member.
The bullet dealer was identified as Dayo Bankole.
Police said the suspects, Ajayi Kayode, Habeeb Idowu and Temitayo Oresanya, were arrested in the Abule Ake area of Kemta in the state capital.
In a statement issued on Sunday, police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said they were arrested on a tip to Kemta’s divisional headquarters.
Oyeyemi said that two of the suspects confessed to their involvement in the incident, while the third, Oresanya, who confirmed being a member of the same cult group as them, claimed that he was not involved in the operation.
“The suspects, Ajayi Kayode, Habeeb Idowu and Temitayo Oresanya were arrested following information received by police officers attached to the Kemta divisional headquarters that the suspects have been hibernating in the Abule Ake area of Kemta for quite some time to evade the police arrest.
“Following the information, the DPO Kemta division, CSP Adeniyi Adekunle, mobilized their men and moved to the scene where the three suspects were detained.
“Two of the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the robbery incident, while the third, Temitayo Oresanya, although he claimed to be a member of the same cult group as them, claimed that he did not participate in the robbery.
READ ALSO: Police and local security elements rescue 58 kidnapped in FCT
“He further said that Ajayi Kayode and Habeeb Idowu went to his home in Abule Ake to hide from the police after the robbery incident.”
Police Commissioner Olanrewaju Oladimeji praised members of the public for providing useful information to the police.
He ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Departments (CIID) for a discreet investigation.
He also ordered a manhunt on the remaining gang members.