Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two suspected members of a notorious “one chance” robbery syndicate operating in the Abeokuta metropolis. The suspects, identified as Olajide Rasaq, 42, and Bidemi Tijani, 29, were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation on Saturday.
The command received actionable intelligence indicating that members of the syndicate, who typically pose as commercial taxi drivers to rob unsuspecting passengers of phones, cash and other valuables, had been spotted in a vehicle heading toward the Ita-Oshin area of Abeokuta. Tactical operatives responded swiftly, pursued the fleeing suspects, intercepted the vehicle and took both men into custody.
Confirming the arrests on Tuesday, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi said the suspects confessed during interrogation to being active members of the gang terrorising commuters across the city. Babaseyi stated that investigations are ongoing to track down other fleeing members, establish the full scope of their criminal activities and recover stolen items.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni commended the VCRU operatives for their rapid response, operational vigilance and tactical professionalism. The commissioner reiterated the command’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements, warning that perpetrators would find no safe haven in Ogun. He also urged residents and commuters to remain alert and report suspicious persons or activities through the Gateway Shield platform or police emergency lines.
The “one chance” robbery method, prevalent in Nigerian urban centres, involves criminals posing as commercial drivers or passengers in shared taxis to isolate and rob victims. The arrests represent a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb street-level crime in Abeokuta, a major commercial hub in southwestern Nigeria. Police have not disclosed whether weapons were recovered or if the suspects have been charged. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
