Ogun State Police Commissioner, CP Bode Ojajuni, and Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest of Bidemi Tijani, 29, and Olajide Rasaq, 42, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, after an intelligence-led operation targeted a suspected “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating in the metropolis.

The two men were intercepted by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit after police intelligence indicated that suspected members of the syndicate were travelling in a taxi towards Ita-Oshin.

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According to the Ogun State Police Command, tactical operatives moved quickly after receiving the information and pursued the vehicle towards Ita-Oshin before successfully stopping it and arresting the two suspects.

Police said the suspects were subsequently questioned and gave statements under caution.

The command alleged that both men confessed to being active members of a “one-chance” robbery syndicate targeting commuters in Abeokuta.

“Acting promptly on the tip-off, tactical operatives of the VCRU gave the fleeing robbers a hot chase towards Ita-Oshin, successfully intercepting the vehicle and apprehending the two suspects,” Babaseyi said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The command has not disclosed the specific incidents allegedly linked to Tijani and Rasaq, nor has it stated whether weapons, stolen property or other exhibits were recovered from them during the operation.

Police said investigators are now working to identify and arrest other members of the alleged syndicate and determine the full extent of its activities.

The arrests come amid sustained efforts by the Ogun command to tackle organised crime through intelligence gathering, tactical operations and increased public reporting.

The command has recently announced other operations involving suspected armed robbery, one-chance robbery, firearms possession and related offences.

In June, police reported the arrest of seven suspects in separate operations and the recovery of an alleged operational vehicle linked to a one-chance syndicate, alongside firearms and 17 stolen mobile phones.

One-chance robbery typically involves criminals posing as commercial transport operators or passengers before diverting unsuspecting commuters to isolated locations, where victims may be robbed or otherwise assaulted.

The method makes public vigilance particularly important because the perpetrators often rely on the appearance of ordinary commercial transport.

Ogun Police have increasingly encouraged residents to provide timely intelligence as part of the command’s community-policing strategy.

The Gateway Shield platform, introduced as the command’s digital community safety and intelligence system, allows residents to report crimes, suspicious activity and emergencies, including through anonymous channels.

Following the latest arrests, CP Ojajuni commended the VCRU officers for their swift response, vigilance and tactical professionalism.

Ojajuni also reiterated that the command would continue pursuing criminal networks across Ogun State, warning that those involved in criminal activities would have no safe haven in the state.

The police commissioner urged commuters and residents to remain alert, particularly when using commercial transport, and to report suspicious movements or criminal activity without delay.

The command provided Gateway Shield, 0800 000 9111, as its toll-free reporting channel, alongside emergency lines 09164859299 and 09154293464.

The Gateway Shield platform is designed to strengthen real-time communication between residents and the police.

Tijani and Rasaq remain suspects at this stage, and the allegations against them have not been tested in court.

The police said efforts to apprehend other alleged members of the syndicate and establish the full scope of the suspected operation are continuing.

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For commuters in Abeokuta, the arrests offer a reassuring sign of an active police response, while the ongoing investigation will determine whether the two suspects can be linked to specific robbery incidents and whether a wider criminal network is operating in the metropolis.