Police nab suspected criminals in Ogun, seize stolen car and guns

The Ogun State Police has arrested seven suspected criminals. Their crimes include armed robbery, one-chance robbery, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.

The police recovered a stolen Toyota Venza, three locally made guns, a Toyota Camry linked to a one-chance robbery group, 17 stolen phones, an HP EliteBook laptop, and N1.1 million tied to a travel scam.

The suspects are Bola Salau, 42; Segun Balogun, 25; Emmanuel Friday; Tunde Abioye; Ankpa James; Tunde Ogunseye, 41; and Owodunni Seun, 36.

DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, shared this news in a statement on Sunday.

He said police arrested the suspects during separate operations led by the Ilaro Area Command and the Ibafo, Mowe, Adatan, and Ode-Remo divisions. Babaseyi noted that these operations are part of the police's efforts to fight crime in the state.

“These successes show the Ogun State Police’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, crime prevention, and protecting lives and property in the state,” Babaseyi said.

He explained that officers from the Ilaro Area Command stopped a Toyota Venza during a routine check on the Oja-Odan/Ilaro Road. The occupants could not explain how they got the vehicle.

“A thorough search of the vehicle found its original registration documents hidden under the carpet. Detectives traced the owner in Ede, Osun State, who confirmed that thieves stole the car during a violent robbery on June 23, 2026,” the statement said.

The police are still investigating to find out more about the suspects' links to the robbery gang. In another operation, detectives from the Ibafo Division arrested two suspected members of a one-chance robbery group. This followed a complaint from a woman who said that her Samsung A16 phone worth N295,000 and N120,000 in cash were stolen.

The suspects were caught at a hotel in Magboro after police gathered intelligence. They also recovered a Toyota Camry used in the robbery.

“The victim identified the suspects, and the police are still working to catch other members of the group and recover more stolen items before sending them to court,” Babaseyi added.

The police also arrested Ankpa James over a travel scam. A 21-year-old accused him of taking N1.276 million to help him travel to Luxembourg.

According to the police, James was arrested after they received a distress call through the Gateway Shield emergency platform.

“During questioning, the suspect admitted to the crime, and we recovered N1.1 million, which was returned to the complainant. James will be prosecuted once the investigation ends,” the statement said.

In another case, police in the Adatan Division arrested a suspected cult member, Tunde Ogunseye, during a raid with other security agencies. Ogunseye reportedly tried to attack officers with a locally made gun before they subdued him.

“A search of his home found another locally made gun, making it two firearms seized. Preliminary investigations show he is part of the Eiye Confraternity and sells illegal drugs,” the statement said.

In a different operation, officers from the Ode-Remo Division stopped an armed robbery aimed at students at Itun-Raye, Ode-Remo. The robbers fled into the bush when they saw the police, leaving behind a locally made gun, two spent cartridges, an HP EliteBook laptop, 17 phones, power banks, and other personal items.

The recovered phones included nine iPhones, seven Samsung Android devices, and one Itel phone. Owodunni Seun was arrested nearby after he could not explain why he was there.

“Preliminary investigation showed he is a repeat offender previously convicted for receiving stolen goods. He is helping police with their ongoing investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the officers for their successful operations. He reaffirmed the police's commitment to intelligence-led policing and preventing crime in Ogun State.

“The command is dedicated to intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention, collaboration with other agencies, and fighting all forms of crime in Ogun State,” Ojajuni said.

He warned criminals to stop their illegal activities or face serious consequences. He also urged residents to share information with the police to help prevent crime and catch offenders.