Oyo Police Nab 2 Suspected Fraudsters Over Alleged Taxi-Related Theft In Ibadan
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected fraudsters following an alleged taxi-related theft involving a female passenger who reportedly lost her mobile phone, cash and clothing after boarding a commercial vehicle in Ibadan.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the suspects were identified as Gbenga Olubade, 42, and Oluwaseun Adeoye, 50.
Ayanlade said their arrest followed a distress call received by the Command 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 interrogation.
During questioning, 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, with Onireke as her intended destination.
However, under circumstances she could not explain, she later found herself in the Oje area of the city, where she discovered that her belongings were missing.
The missing items included an iPhone 11 Pro valued at ₦240,000, cash of ₦2,500 and clothing worth ₦10,000.
The complainant reportedly said the incident resurfaced on November 4 when she was heading to work and attempting 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 assisted in apprehending the occupants before handing them over to the Police.
The statement added that the two suspects, Olubade and Adeoye, had their statements obtained and reportedly confessed to the allegations during interrogation.
The Command has since commenced further investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the suspects may have been involved in other similar criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, psc, mnips, reassured residents of the Command’s unwavering 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.
