Operatives of the Anti-Robbery Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a suspected kingpin and two others for allegedly engaging in armed robbery and vehicle theft across Abeokuta, the state capital, and its environs.
Suspects Identified
The suspects are Ismaila Israel Sokunbi (38), Kayode Adeyemi (37), the suspected kingpin, and Kola Taiwo (55). The Command's Spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement released in Abeokuta yesterday.
Incident Details
Babaseyi stated that the police acted on a distress report of an armed robbery attempt received at Obantoko Division on May 22, 2026, at approximately 2145 hours at Oniyo Community, Arokoje, Obantoko, Abeokuta. According to him, the armed suspects attempted to dispossess a resident of his vehicle while he was opening the gate to his residence. The victim raised an alarm, attracting neighbors to the scene while still struggling with the suspects to recover his car. In the process, the suspects lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence.
As operatives closed in, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled in a standby vehicle. During their escape, one suspect dropped an Infinix mobile phone and a Wema Bank ATM card, which were recovered as exhibits.
Investigation and Arrests
Acting on intelligence derived from the recovered items, detectives of the Anti-Robbery Squad launched telecommunications analysis, which led to the identification of Ismaila Israel Sokunbi as a principal suspect with links to Kayode Adeyemi, the suspected kingpin. Following sustained intelligence-led operations, Sokunbi was arrested on May 26, 2026, within Oke-Jigbo and Isale Abese areas of Abeokuta.
A search warrant executed at his residence led to the recovery of exhibits including a brand-new Ox ceiling fan, a brand-new gas cooker, SIM cards and SIM packs, suspected charms, mechanical and machinery tools, a commercial hose pipe for gas filling, and a set of cooking pots.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Anti-Robbery Squad of the SCID, Eleweran, where further investigation led to the arrest of Kayode Adeyemi (37), the suspected kingpin, in Ibadan, Oyo State. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the attempted armed robbery and admitted membership of a syndicate responsible for multiple vehicle thefts across Abeokuta and adjoining communities. Babaseyi said that the suspects further revealed that they specialized in stealing vehicles by tampering with ignition wiring systems.
Similarly, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Squad, acting on intelligence, recovered a Toyota Corolla stolen at Osiele by a 55-year-old suspect. The case was reported at Odeda Police Station on May 18, 2026. Following discreet investigation, detectives arrested Kola Taiwo (55) and recovered the stolen Toyota Corolla. Investigation revealed that the suspect had been involved in several vehicle thefts within the Osiele axis using master keys to gain access to parked vehicles. Taiwo also confessed to the theft of a green Toyota Camry in a previous operation.
Police Commitment
Efforts are ongoing to recover additional stolen vehicles and apprehend other members of the syndicate. The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, resilience, and intelligence-driven approach of the operatives involved in the operations. Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command's commitment to sustained proactive policing and zero tolerance for violent crime and vehicle theft across the state.
The CP further warned criminals to desist from unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law, while assuring residents of continued safety and security across Ogun State. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
