Police arrest one, recover stolen mini bus in Ogun

Detectives from the Omu-Ijebu Divisional Headquarters of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old woman and recovered a suspected stolen Suzuki mini bus that was being repainted in a bush in Omu-Ijebu.

The suspect, Azeez Khadijat, was arrested on Sunday, at about 4pm, after information was received that three men and a woman were sighted along Ikhasi Road, Kajola via Omu, illegally repainting the vehicle, popularly known as “Korope”, without a registration number.

The state police spokesman, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday.

Babaseyi stated that the vehicle was suspected to have been originally yellow before being repainted in white and blue in an attempt to alter its identity.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, detectives mobilised to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in different directions. However, the said Azeez Khadijat was arrested inside the abandoned vehicle,” Babaseyi said.

The vehicle, which bore a Lagos State registration plate, was recovered and secured at the station.

A search of the scene led to the recovery of three mobile phones, one power bank, one paint can, one piece of sandpaper and one Type-C charging cord, all suspected to belong to the fleeing suspects.

Babaseyi said preliminary investigations revealed that the mini bus was allegedly used to perpetrate criminal activities in Lagos State, prompting the suspects to repaint it to conceal its identity and evade detection.

He added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the swift response of the operatives and assured that all fleeing accomplices would be brought to justice.

Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield toll-free line: 0800 000 9111; and emergency numbers: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.

On Monday, the state command arrested three suspects in separate operations across the Mowe and Sagamu axis.

They recovered locally made firearms, cartridges, and charms believed to be linked to cult-related and criminal activities.