The Ogun State Police Command said on Friday that it has within the first three months of the year arrested 2,141 suspects for various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery to rape and cultism, among others.
The command said that within this same period, it has prosecuted 1530 suspects, secured 62 convictions, and recovered properties, including stolen vehicles, with a value of N106,786,000.
Arms and ammunition recovered within this period under review were put at 217.
The spokeswoman for the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Friday.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, said that feedback from the regular engagement with the communities in the state proved so vital to giving bite to the renewed onslaught against crime fighting in the state.
Odutola said, “Record shows that while the command contended with a spike in overall criminal activities in February, there was a noticeable decline in the number of cases investigated and prosecuted in March.
“Conviction of suspects across the three months is relatively stable, with a downward trend in the number of suspects arrested for rape, but an increasing number of suspects were arrested for cult-related activities due to pro-active measures emplaced by the anti-cultism unit.
“Five (5) kidnap suspects were arrested during the period; however, there was a drastic reduction in actual kidnap incidents.
“Twenty-six (26) stolen vehicles were recovered in the first quarter due to the vigilance of patrol teams conducting stop and search.
“Some of the drivers stole the vehicles from other states and intended to take advantage of the gateway status of the state to escape.”
She added that the success achieved and the relative peace in the state are a result of continuous assistance provided by Governor Dapo Abiodun, backed with technical and logistic support provided by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, coupled with the cooperation of the residents of the state.
For the safety of travellers in the state, she said that the command has established a security shed along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode highway, and this is supported by motorised patrol teams positioned on both sides of the long bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan motorway.
Odutola said that one armoured personnel carrier is stationed at the Sagamu interchange, Ilaro and Ijebu Ode, while two others are actively deployed to the Sagamu axis and Abeokuta metropolis.
The command reiterated its commitment to sustaining partnerships with citizens to keep the state safe and increase investors’ confidence in undertaking business activities.