The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation that also led to the recovery of a hijacked trailer truck, 900 bags of cement and a locally made single-barrel pistol, police authorities said on Thursday.
The Ogun State Police Command has said that its operatives arrested eight suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate allegedly responsible for violent attacks and the hijacking of trailer trucks along the Papalanto–Ilaro and Owode–Idiroko corridors of the state.
The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation that also led to the recovery of a hijacked trailer truck, 900 bags of cement and a locally made single-barrel pistol, police authorities said on Thursday.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the operation was carried out by detectives of the Anti-Robbery Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The police spokesperson said the operation was carried out following directives from the Commissioner of Police to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and covert tracking of criminal networks operating on major highways in the state.
Babaseyi stated that sustained intelligence collection, crime pattern analysis and discreet surveillance enabled operatives to identify and infiltrate the syndicate, culminating in the arrest of eight key members at different locations across the State.
The police identified the arrested suspects as Mogaji Sodiq, also known as “Ogbonṣ,” Adebowale Lekan, Ajah Peter, Ganiyu Razaq, Odeleye Ayoola, Egboja Amos, Bello Akeem and Olaifa Sunday.
The police spokesperson added that investigations revealed that the suspects were intercepted after conveying a hijacked trailer truck loaded with cement.
According to the police, most of the stolen consignment had already been moved to a warehouse, which detectives tracked and recovered before effecting further arrests, the police said.
The police said that a locally fabricated single-barrel pistol allegedly used by the suspects during their operations was later recovered during follow-up operations.
Babaseyi further stated that police investigators further established that the group had been involved in previous criminal activities, with preliminary findings pointing to an organised pattern of attacks targeting commercial supply chains and long-haul transporters operating along key routes in the state.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the syndicate who are currently at large, as well as to identify accomplices, logistics handlers and warehouses linked to the group’s operations.
“Intelligence is currently being exploited to track, locate, and apprehend other fleeing members, while further investigations continue to dismantle their wider criminal network and identify accomplices and logistics channels,” Babaseyi said.
Babaseyi said the suspects will to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing, proactive crime prevention and the protection of lives and property across Ogun State.
He assured residents and road users that sustained operations against organised crime would continue, particularly along highways and border routes prone to criminal activity.
The police also urged members of the public to support security efforts by reporting suspicious movements or activities to the command through its emergency and toll-free lines.