The Ogun State Police Command has arrested eight suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate accused of violent attacks and hijacking trailer trucks along the Papalanto–Ilaro and Owode–Idiroko highways.
The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation, which also led to the recovery of a hijacked trailer truck carrying 900 bags of cement and a locally fabricated single-barrel pistol. DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, stated that the operation was conducted by the Anti-Robbery Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, under directives from the Commissioner of Police to intensify surveillance and tracking of highway criminal networks.
Sustained intelligence gathering and crime pattern analysis enabled operatives to identify and infiltrate the syndicate, culminating in the arrests of Mogaji Sodiq (“Ogbonṣ”), Adebowale Lekan, Ajah Peter, Ganiyu Razaq, Odeleye Ayoola, Egboja Amos, Bello Akeem, and Olaifa Sunday at different locations across the state. Investigations revealed that the suspects were intercepted while transporting a hijacked trailer truck loaded with cement, with much of the stolen consignment recovered from a tracked warehouse.
Police investigations further established that the group had previously engaged in organised attacks targeting commercial supply chains and long-haul transporters. Authorities are now working to track other fleeing members, identify accomplices, logistics handlers, and linked warehouses, as well as dismantle the wider criminal network.
The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and urged the public to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious activities. The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
