Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two suspected one-chance robbers in the Obantoko area of Abeokuta after a robbery operation targeting three female passengers reportedly went wrong and triggered outrage among residents.
The police said the suspects were apprehended on Wednesday evening following a distress call from members of the public shortly after the victims were allegedly dispossessed of their belongings inside a commercial vehicle operating around the Somorin axis.
The incident, according to the police, occurred at about 5:15pm when the victims boarded a Nissan Micra taxi from the Somorin area with the intention of travelling to NNPC Kuto. However, what appeared to be an ordinary intra-city trip reportedly turned violent moments later.
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The Ogun State Police Command disclosed that the occupants of the vehicle allegedly diverted from the agreed route after reaching the OLG Somorin axis, attacked the passengers, and forcefully collected their valuables before pushing them out of the vehicle.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, stated that one of the victims later discovered that her iPhone 12 Pro had been stolen and immediately raised an alarm which immediately drew the attention of residents in the area.
In many parts of Abeokuta and other urban centres across the country, one-chance robbery has evolved from isolated criminal incidents into a recurring security concern, particularly for commuters who rely heavily on commercial taxis and buses during rush hours and evening periods.
Unlike conventional armed robbery attacks, victims are often trapped inside moving vehicles by drivers and accomplices posing as passengers, thus making escape difficult until valuables have been taken.
Babaseyi stated that detectives attached to the Obantoko Division moved swiftly after receiving the report and collaborated with residents in tracking the suspects.
He identified the suspects as Odunuga Kehinde and Olajide Rasak. He added that the operational vehicle used in the alleged robbery escaped from the scene before police arrived.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that officers had to intervene quickly to prevent angry residents from lynching the suspects after they were apprehended.
Babaseyi stated, “The prompt intervention of the police prevented an attempted mob action by agitated residents who had gathered at the scene.”
He added that the suspects allegedly confessed to participating in the robbery during preliminary interrogation.
According to the command, officers recovered the stolen iPhone 12 Pro alongside other mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from previous victims.
The recovered iPhone has since been returned to its owner after documentation and bond procedures, while the suspects remain in custody pending further investigation and possible prosecution.
Despite the fact that the police did not reveal whether efforts were ongoing to trace other fleeing members of the syndicate, the escape of the vehicle has again highlighted the operational mobility often enjoyed by one-chance gangs operating within urban transport networks.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers of the Obantoko Division and residents whose cooperation led to the arrest.
Ojajuni also reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and movements to secur
ity agencies rather than resort to jungle justice.
The police maintained that investigations into the case are ongoing.
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