The Ogun State Police Command has on Saturday, said its operatives have burst a robber and car theft syndicate with major kingpins arrested and now in custody.
The command said it recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against armed robbery and vehicle theft across Abeokuta and its environs.
In one of the instances, the command said operatives, acting on a distress call received at the Obantoko Division on 22nd May 2026, responded to an armed robbery attempt at Oniyo Community, Arokoje, Obantoko, Abeokuta, where armed suspects attempted to dispossess a resident of his vehicle as he was opening the gate to his residence.
The victim raised an alarm, attracting neighbours to the scene.
In the ensuing struggle, the suspects lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence.
As operatives closed in, they abandoned the vehicle and fled in a standby getaway car.
During their escape, one of the suspects dropped an Infinix mobile phone and a Wema Bank ATM card, which were recovered as exhibits.
Acting on intelligence derived from the recovered items, detectives of the Anti-Robbery Squad conducted telecommunications analysis, which led to the identification of Ismaila Israel Sokunbi as a principal suspect with links to Kayode Adeyemi, the alleged kingpin.
Following sustained intelligence-led operations, Sokunbi was arrested on 26th May 2026 within the Oke-Jigbo and Isale Abese areas of Abeokuta.
A search warrant executed at his residence led to the recovery of exhibits including a brand-new ceiling fan, a gas cooker, SIM cards and SIM packs, suspected charms, mechanical and machinery tools, a commercial hose pipe used for gas filling, and a set of cooking pots.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Anti-Robbery Squad of the SCID, Eleweran, where further investigation led to the arrest of Kayode Adeyemi (37), the suspected kingpin, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the attempted armed robbery and admitted membership of a syndicate responsible for multiple vehicle thefts across Abeokuta and adjoining communities.
They further revealed that they specialised in stealing vehicles by tampering with ignition wiring systems.
In another case of arrest, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Squad, acting on intelligence, resolved a vehicle theft case reported at Odeda Police Station on 18th May 2026, involving a Toyota Corolla stolen in Osiele.
Following discreet investigations, detectives arrested Kola Taiwo (55) and recovered the stolen Toyota Corolla.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect had been involved in several vehicle thefts within the Osiele axis, using master keys to gain access to parked vehicles.
He also confessed to the theft of a green Toyota Camry in a previous operation.
Efforts are ongoing to recover additional stolen vehicles and apprehend other members of the syndicate.
The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, commended the professionalism, resilience, and intelligence-driven approach of the operatives involved in the operations.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustained proactive policing and zero tolerance for violent crime.