Operatives attached to the Apata Police Station, Oyo State Command, on Tuesday, arrested two Army Privates (Ptes) of the Nigerian Army who allegedly robbed and dispossessed one man of ₦20,000.
The suspects, Emmanuel Sule (25) and Bulama Abubakar (23), were said to have accosted their victim, one Abikoye Opeyemi, at the Owode axis of Apata, Ibadan, on Tuesday evening.
Opeyemi was said to be a resident of the Wire and Cable area of Apata, in Ido Local Government Area of the state.
Reportedly found on one of the two soldiers, Sule, was a gun (but which turned out to be a knife) which he allegedly used to threaten their victim who was flagged down from a commercial motorcycle for wearing a face-cap and a pullover with army-green colour.
How the Army Privates were arrested
The two suspects, who claimed to be junior officers at the Odogbo Army Barracks, were arrested at the scene of the incident by a patrol team of the Apata Police Station.
They were taken to the station from where they were later taken to the State CID, Wednesday afternoon, reportedly on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, for further investigation.
A senior police officer disclosed to Newscoven.com that Army Private Emmamuel Sule was carrying the gun-like weapon without permission, which he allegedly used to dispossessed the victim of the sum of ₦20,000.
“The robbery incident occured at about 1630hrs of Tuesday, 26 May, 2026 along the Owode axis of Apata, Ibadan.
“Private Emmamuel Sule spotted the victim, Abikoye Opeyemi, on top of a commercial motorcycle (okada) wearing a face-cap on top of a pullover which has an army green colour.
“He flagged down the okada rider and commanded Abikoye Opeyemi and asked him to remove the pullover, placing the gun by the side of the victim, but well hidden from public glare.
“Private Sule claimed that he told Opeyemi that he will take him to the Army Barracks or hand him over to the nearest police station for wearing an army-green colour face-cap and pullover.
“Opeyemi was said to have become fearful for his life and begged Private Sule not to kill him, and that he will give him whatever he asks for to spare his life.
“Private Sule subsequently demanded for a lump sum and asked Opeyemi to transfer the money from his account into his own (Sule’s) account.
“Opeyemi however said he didn’t have more than ₦20,000 in the bank account from which he can do the mobile transfer. He said he can beg the okada rider to help him make withdrawal from his other bank account, using his (the victim’s) ATM card.
“The victim subsequently sent the okada rider to approach the nearest POS operator to make the withdrawal.
“Emmanuel Sule, still holding the gun by the side of Opeyemi, told him to transfer the ₦20,000 while they wait for the okada rider to return with the other withdrawal.
“However, as the okada rider was going, he saw a team of policemen on a patrol along the road. He informed them about what was happening.
“The law enforcement agents rushed down to the scene and saw Private Sule still holding on to Abikoye Opeyemi and they arrested him.
“Sule made a phone call to one of his colleagues, Bulama Abubakar, who upon arrival was also arrested by the police officers and two of them were taken to the Apata Police Station at about 1900hrs, yesterday, where they made statements,” the police source added.
Some military personnel from the Odogbo Army Barracks reportedly stormed the Apata station, Wednesday afternoon, angrily demanding for the release of Emmanuel Sule and Bulama Abubakar.
However, the DPO of the police station was said to have resisted the intimidation, and, rather than releasing the two suspects, took them to the State CID, Iyaganku, with the military personnel following them.
The two suspects, it was gathered, have been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Iyaganku for further investigations.
When contacted on Thursday morning, the PPRO of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Alayande, said he could not confirm the arrest as he was yet to be informed.
