The Ogun State Police Command has arrested seven suspected criminals for offences ranging from armed robbery and ‘one-chance’ robbery to cultism, unlawful possession of firearms and obtaining money by false pretences. The command also recovered a stolen Toyota Venza, three locally made firearms, a Toyota Camry allegedly used by a one-chance robbery syndicate, 17 stolen mobile phones, an HP EliteBook laptop and N1.1 million traced to an alleged travel scam. The suspects were identified as Bola Salau, 42; Segun Balogun, 25; Emmanuel Friday; Tunde Abioye; Ankpa James; Tunde Ogunseye, 41; and Owodunni Seun, 36. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. According to him, the suspects were arrested during separate intelligence-led operations carried out by operatives of the Ilaro Area Command and the Ibafo, Mowe, Adatan and Ode-Remo divisions. He said the operations formed part of the command’s sustained efforts to combat crime across the state. ‘These operational successes underscore the unwavering commitment of the Ogun State Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni to intelligence-led policing, strategic crime prevention and the protection of lives and property across the state’, Babaseyi said. He explained that operatives attached to the Ilaro Area Command intercepted a Toyota Venza during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Oja-Odan/Ilaro Road after the occupants allegedly failed to give a satisfactory account of how they came into possession of the vehicle. ‘A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of its original registration documents concealed beneath the carpet. Detectives subsequently traced the rightful owner in Ede, Osun State, who confirmed that the vehicle had been stolen during a violent armed robbery attack on his residence on 23 June 2026’, the statement read. The command added that investigations were ongoing to determine the suspects’ involvement and apprehend other fleeing members of the robbery gang. In another operation, detectives attached to the Ibafo Division arrested two suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate following a complaint by a female victim, who alleged that she was robbed of her Samsung A16 mobile phone valued at N295,000 and N120,000 in cash. The suspects were apprehended at a hotel in Magboro after intelligence-led investigations, while a Toyota Camry allegedly used in the operation was also recovered. ‘The victim positively identified the suspects, while an investigation is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen property before they are charged to court’, Babaseyi said. The police also arrested Ankpa James over an alleged travel scam after a 21-year-old complainant accused him of collecting N1.276 million under the pretext of facilitating his travel to Luxembourg. According to the command, the suspect was arrested following a distress report received through the Gateway Shield emergency platform. ‘During interrogation, the suspect admitted involvement in the offence, while N1.1 million was recovered and released to the complainant on bond. The suspect will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation’, the statement added. Similarly, operatives of the Adatan Division arrested a suspected cult member, Tunde Ogunseye, during a joint raid with other security agencies. The police alleged that Ogunseye attempted to attack security operatives with a locally fabricated pistol before he was subdued. ‘A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of another locally fabricated pistol, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two. Preliminary investigation further revealed that the suspect is a member of the Eiye Confraternity and is also allegedly involved in the sale of illicit drugs’, the statement said.
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