Tragedy and outrage have hit Oloba Village in Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, following the brutal murder of a family of six by suspected armed robbers who invaded their residence in a night attack that has left the entire community in shock.

The Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with the heinous crime which claimed the lives of Ifeanyi Chukwu, his wife and their four children, in what police described as one of the most wicked and cold-blooded killings recorded in the state in recent times.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday, 6th October, 2026, where he gave details of how the suspects allegedly carried out the gruesome murder and robbery operation.

According to the PPRO, the suspects have been identified as Hammed Akinbami, Akinbami Ojo and Padonu Edward, all of whom are residents of Oloba Village where the incident occurred, a revelation that has further heightened tension and disbelief among members of the community.

DSP Olayinka explained that the suspects allegedly invaded the residence of the victims on Monday, 22nd September, 2026, armed with dangerous weapons including a locally made Dane gun, two sharp cutlasses and a wooden club, with the clear intention to rob and kill.

He stated that on getting to the house, the suspects immediately launched an attack on the family, dispossessing them of valuable items and cash running into hundreds of thousands of naira, before proceeding to eliminate every member of the household in a bid to cover their tracks.

Items allegedly stolen from the victims during the operation include the sum of N200,000 cash, one Boxer motorcycle, a Doma machine with its chainsaw attachment and a spraying machine which the family reportedly used for their farming activities.

Giving a chilling account of how the crime was executed, the police spokesperson said Hammed Akinbami, who was armed with the Dane gun, allegedly shot the head of the family, Ifeanyi Chukwu, at close range, killing him instantly inside his own home.

He added that the other two suspects, Akinbami Ojo and Padonu Edward, allegedly attacked the wife with cutlasses and a club, hitting her repeatedly on the head and inflicting deep machete cuts that led to her death on the spot despite her pleas for mercy.

In a most disturbing twist, the suspects were said to have tied the hands and legs of two of the couple’s children and thrown them alive into a nearby river, while the remaining children were also murdered and their bodies disposed of in the same river in a desperate attempt to conceal evidence.

The incident, which happened at night, went unnoticed until hours later when neighbours who did not see any member of the family outside their compound became suspicious and raised alarm, leading to a search that uncovered traces of blood inside the house.

Following a report lodged at the nearest police division, operatives of the Oyo State Police Command immediately swung into action, launching a thorough investigation which involved intelligence gathering, forensic examination of the crime scene and interrogation of residents.

Through diligent investigation and credible intelligence, the police were able to track down and arrest the three suspects in their hideouts within Oloba Village, where some of the stolen items including the motorcycle were reportedly recovered from them.

During interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to the crime and narrated how they planned the robbery and murder, blaming their action on greed and a desire to dispossess the family of their belongings and farm equipment.

The remains of the wife of the deceased have since been recovered from the river by a combined team of police operatives and local divers, while intensive efforts are ongoing to recover the bodies of Ifeanyi Chukwu and the four children who are still missing in the river.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State has reportedly ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Iyaganku, Ibadan, for further discreet investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects in court.

Meanwhile, residents of Oloba Village have continued to express shock and grief over the incident, describing the deceased family as peaceful, hardworking and law-abiding people who had no quarrel with anyone in the community and did not deserve such a cruel fate.

Community leaders in Lagelu Local Government have called on the police to ensure that justice is served and that the suspects face the full wrath of the law, to serve as deterrent to others who may want to engage in such barbaric acts.

The Oyo State Police Command has assured members of the public that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, while reiterating its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal elements have no hiding place in the state.

The command also urged residents to continue to provide timely and useful information to the police, noting that prompt information sharing was key to the swift arrest of the suspects and could help in preventing similar crimes in the future.