Police Arrest Two Suspected Members Of Interstate Gang Behind Phone, Motorcycle Snatching

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of an interstate criminal gang allegedly involved in the snatching of mobile phones and motorcycles from unsuspecting residents across parts of southwestern Nigeria.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, noting that preliminary investigations had linked the suspects to alleged criminal activities in Oyo, Osun and Lagos states.

According to the police, the arrests followed credible intelligence that led operatives to conduct a raid on a residence in the Onirerin–Mokola area of Ibadan.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Timilehin Idowu, 23, and Kudus Agoeo, 25, who are suspected of participating in the gang’s activities.

The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly operated as part of a three-man gang, using a motorcycle to snatch mobile phones and motorcycles within the Ibadan metropolis and in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

According to the command, the suspects provided information suggesting that the group’s operations extended beyond Oyo State to other parts of the region, including Lagos. They also reportedly supplied investigators with information about other individuals allegedly connected to the network, including those suspected of helping dispose of stolen property.

The police said investigations were ongoing to verify the information provided, identify and apprehend other suspected members of the gang, and recover items believed to have been stolen.

Both suspects remain in police custody as investigators continue efforts to dismantle the alleged criminal network and bring anyone found culpable to justice.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and efforts to combat robbery and other criminal activities.

He also commended members of the public for their cooperation and encouraged residents to provide credible information that could assist the police in preventing and detecting crime.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the arrests form part of the Oyo State Police Command’s ongoing efforts to tackle street robbery and motorcycle snatching, while investigations continue into the alleged involvement of other individuals in the criminal network.