Three arrested for woman's murder during robbery in Ibadan

Three suspected members of an armed robbery gang have been arrested after they reportedly confessed to killing a woman during a robbery in the Wofun Olodo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The victim, 44-year-old Mrs Wahab Rukayat, was killed in the attack, and others in the house suffered serious injuries.

This information came from a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, on Saturday.

The suspects are Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28; Okunola Mathew, 24; and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23.

The police said the incident happened at around 2:30am on August 4, 2026, in the home of Alhaji Olatokunbo in Wofun Olodo, Ibadan.

The police stated, "On August 4, 2026, at about 0230hrs, a deadly armed robbery attack occurred at the residence of Alhaji Olatokunbo, Wofun Olodo, Ibadan, where a 44-year-old woman, Mrs Wahab Rukayat, was killed and other occupants of the residence were seriously injured."

The police added that the robbers took several mobile phones, wristwatches, $400, and other valuables worth about N3,493,000.

After the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered the case to be handed over to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation.

The police said the VCRU began an intelligence-led investigation, using technology, which led to the arrest of the three suspects at a hideout in the Sabo area of Ibadan around 9pm on October 2.

The statement explained, "Operatives of the VCRU, acting on credible intelligence generated through painstaking investigation and aided by technology, carried out a targeted operation that led to the arrest of three suspects at a suspected hideout in Sabo, Ibadan."

The suspects were identified as Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28; Okunola Mathew, 24; and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23.

The police also reported that an iPhone 7 Plus, belonging to one of the victims, was retrieved from the suspects.

The statement mentioned that the surviving victims recognized the suspects during an identification parade.

"The surviving victims, during an identification parade, identified the suspects among others as members of the gang that attacked the residence on August 4, 2026," the statement said.

According to the police, the suspects admitted their roles in the robbery and the murder of Rukayat.

The police stated, "The suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime, their respective roles in the robbery operation, the collection of the sum of N3,493,000, and the killing of the deceased woman."

The suspects also confessed to being involved in other robbery operations in the Wofun Olodo and Akobo areas of Ibadan.

The Commissioner of Police has instructed the VCRU and other relevant units to step up efforts to catch other gang members and anyone involved in selling or disposing of their stolen goods.