The Ogun State Police Command has recovered three stolen vehicles and arrested two suspected armed robbers during coordinated operations targeting criminal activities in the Ifo and Sango areas of the state.
Recovered exhibits during the operation included two live cartridges, foreign currencies, a So-Safe Corps uniform, an MP3 sound system and a plasma television set.
The operations were led by the Divisional Police Officers of Ifo and Sango divisions, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi and CSP Idowu Olatunji, respectively.
The command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed the development in a statement issued to journalists on Wednesday.
According to the police, the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to tackle rising incidents of armed robbery, vehicle snatching and other violent crimes around the Sango-Ota and Ifo axes.
Babaseyi explained that the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence-led investigations into recent robbery and car theft cases reported within the affected divisions.
He said detectives attached to the Ifo Division acted on credible intelligence on Saturday, May 10, 2026, and stormed a suspected criminal hideout in the Adeleye area of Itele, Ota, where stolen vehicles were allegedly being concealed.
“On arrival at about 4:00 p.m., operatives sighted the suspected stolen vehicles within the premises and immediately cordoned off the area, laying strategic ambush for the occupants who were not present at the time,” the statement read.
The police spokesman added that the operation eventually led to the arrest of one Mohammed Adeniyi Usman, also known as “Mandela,” aged 48, at about 10:35 p.m.
A search conducted on the premises reportedly led to the recovery of a Toyota Corolla belonging to a complainant, a Toyota Venza allegedly stolen at gunpoint on April 26, 2026, at Ilese-Awo in Abeokuta, and a Honda Crosstour reportedly snatched during another robbery operation in Ijoko, Ota.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that the suspect belonged to a larger criminal syndicate involved in armed robbery and vehicle theft operations within Ogun State and neighbouring areas.
In a related operation on Sunday, May 11, 2026, operatives from the Ifo and Sango divisions reportedly arrested another suspect, Abiodun Ogunojukan, popularly known as “Ilasa,” aged 38, at the Sango-Ota Under Bridge following intelligence reports.
The suspect was said to have confessed to participating in the crimes and subsequently provided useful information to investigators to assist in tracking other fleeing members of the syndicate and recovering more stolen vehicles.
Police authorities confirmed that all exhibits recovered during the operations had been properly documented and secured.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and intelligence-driven policing strategy.
Ojajuni reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property while sustaining the crackdown on criminal activities across the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information.
