The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected serial fraudsters over an alleged taxi-related theft in Ibadan, the state capital.
The suspects, identified as 42-year-old Gbenga Olubade and 50-year-old Oluwaseun Adeoye, were arrested following a distress call received on November 4, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m. from a concerned citizen, reporting a confrontation between a commercial taxi driver and a passenger at TCTC Junction, Idi Ope, along Eleyele Road, Ibadan.
Acting on the information, detectives were immediately deployed to the scene, where the passenger, the driver and another occupant of the vehicle were taken to the station for questioning.
During interrogation, the female passenger narrated that on October 1, 2026, at about 9:50 a.m., she had boarded a Micra taxi around Unity Hospital, Eleyele, heading towards Onireke, Ibadan. However, under circumstances she could not explain, she later found herself in the Oje area of the city, where she discovered that her iPhone 11 Pro, valued at N240,000, alongside cash of N2,500 and clothing worth N10,000, were missing. The total value of the missing items was N252,500.
The complainant said the incident resurfaced on November 4, 2026, when she was on her way to work and trying to board a commercial vehicle. She sighted the same Micra taxi and recognised the two occupants she had encountered during the October 1 incident. She immediately raised an alarm, attracting the attention of other road users who helped apprehend the occupants before they were handed over to the police.
Following their arrest, the two suspects had their statements taken, during which they confessed to the allegations. The command said it had begun further investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the suspects had been involved in other similar criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant when boarding commercial vehicles, promptly report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could assist the police in identifying and dismantling criminal networks operating within the state.
The arrest highlights a recurring form of crime in major Nigerian cities known locally as “one-chance” robbery, where criminals operate in unregistered or private vehicles to rob unsuspecting passengers.
In Lagos, the police and the state government have repeatedly warned residents about one-chance operators, particularly around bus stops and major roads. In July 2026, the Lagos State Police Command arrested a three-man gang operating along the Iyana-Ipaja area, recovering a Toyota Corolla used for the crime.
In Ibadan, similar syndicates have targeted commuters along the Eleyele, Ojo, and Sango areas. The Oyo State Government has urged residents to use registered commercial vehicles and avoid boarding private cars operating as taxis.
The police urged anyone with information on similar incidents to contact the Oyo State Call Response Center on the toll-free line 615, or the State Police Command Control Room on 08081768614 and 07055495413.
