The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two men suspected of being involved in a taxi-related theft incident in Ibadan after their alleged victim reportedly recognized them inside the same commercial vehicle used in the incident.
The suspects, identified as Gbenga Olubade, 42, and Oluwaseun Adeoye, 50, were arrested on November 4, 2026, following a confrontation involving a commercial taxi driver and a female passenger at TCTC Junction, Idi Ope, along Eleyele Road, Ibadan.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the police spokesperson, detectives were deployed to the scene following a distress call received at about 9:30 a.m. on November 4, prompting the arrest of the passenger, the taxi driver and another occupant of the vehicle for questioning.
During interrogation, the female passenger reportedly told the police that she had boarded a Micra taxi around Unity Hospital, Eleyele, on October 1, 2026, at approximately 9:50 a.m., intending to travel to Onireke, Ibadan.
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However, she allegedly found herself in the Oje area of the city under circumstances she could not explain. Upon discovering her location, she realised that her iPhone 11 Pro, valued at ₦240,000, cash amounting to ₦2,500 and clothing worth ₦10,000 were missing.
The total value of the allegedly stolen items was estimated at ₦252,500.
The victim reportedly encountered the suspects again on November 4 while attempting to board a commercial vehicle on her way to work.
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According to the police, she sighted the same Micra taxi she had boarded a month earlier and recognised the two occupants she had encountered during the previous 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.
Ayanlade further disclosed that the two suspects were taken into custody, and their statements were obtained during interrogation, during which they reportedly confessed to the allegations.
The police command has commenced further investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the suspects may have been involved in other similar criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
He urged residents to remain vigilant when boarding commercial vehicles, promptly report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could help the police identify and dismantle criminal networks operating within Oyo State.
