A notorious ‘one chance’ kingpin and two members of his gang who operate in the Oshodi area of Lagos State have been apprehended in Agege.

Spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Monday, said the suspects were nabbed by the Ikeja division when one of their victims who was being robbed, raised the alarm.

Mr Hundeyin said officers from the division, “arrested a notorious ‘one chance’ kingpin and two members of his gang after responding to a distress call while on routine patrol along Agege Motor Road in Ikeja.”

He said the suspects, 53-year-old Bode Oludayisin, 22-year-old male, Michael Sowunmi; 20-year-old male, David Olawaye, were apprehended after one of their victims who was being robbed by the syndicate in their minibus, raised the alarm.

Mr Hundeyin stated that “One of the suspects was positively identified as a wanted gang leader linked to a series of violent ‘one chance’ robberies across Lagos.”

He said the operatives, after receiving a distress call about the incident, “intercepted the suspects inside an unregistered commercial minibus, which has now been confirmed as their operational vehicle.”

The spokesperson said a Tecno Spark 20 smartphone belonging to one of their victims, an axe, two concrete interlock bricks, heavy stones suspected to have been used to assault past victims, and a broken bottle, were recovered from the suspects and had been registered as exhibits and weapons.

Mr Hundeyin stated, “Investigations revealed that the gang operated using commercial minibuses, commonly known as Korope, pretending to be ordinary passengers. They often picked up unsuspecting commuters from locations such as Oshodi and then diverted them to unknown locations, where victims were robbed under threats, violence, and intimidation.’’

He also stated that the command’s Special Squad 1 had taken over the case to arrest other fleeing gang members and dismantle the criminal network.

Commending the officers for their response which led to the arrest of the wanted kingpin and the disruption of his gang’s operations, the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, urged residents to be extra cautious, avoid boarding unmarked or suspicious vehicles, and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.