The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a stolen motorcycle syndicate operating across Osun, Ondo, and Edo states, arresting three suspects and recovering a stolen motorcycle in the process.
The operation, according to a police statement, was part of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun’s, intelligence-driven and people-oriented policing strategy aimed at combating organized crime across the country.
Police operatives attached to the Yaba Division in Ondo town executed the successful operation following a report of a stolen red Bajaj motorcycle from Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The report, made on October 9, 2025, came from one Tosin, a resident of Ile-Ife, who stated that the motorcycle had been given to one Tope to operate before it was snatched by unknown assailants, leaving the rider seriously injured.
Following the report, intelligence gathered by the police indicated that the stolen motorcycle had been transported into Ondo State, prompting immediate action by the Divisional Police Officer in Yaba.
The DPO, leading his men, embarked on a coordinated operation that combined forensic analysis with cyber intelligence to trace the movement of the stolen motorcycle.
Their efforts yielded success as the team tracked the stolen bike to Ondo town and arrested three suspects identified as Uche Unwankwo, Afolabi Olabisi, and a female accomplice, Taye Akinmolayan.
During interrogation, police said Akinmolayan made several contradictory statements, claiming at different times to have purchased the motorcycle for ₦530,000, ₦650,000, and ₦970,000.
Her inconsistencies reportedly gave her away, leading investigators to uncover her direct involvement in the crime. She later confessed to participating in the illicit deal.
Further investigation revealed that the rider had been violently attacked and dispossessed of the motorcycle before it was moved to Ondo town for resale.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, suggest that the suspects are part of a larger inter-state criminal network that specializes in stealing and reselling motorcycles.
The command said efforts were underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate who are currently on the run.
The case has since been transferred to the Tactical Investigation and Response Squad (TIRS) for deeper investigation, while the injured motorcycle rider is said to be recuperating.
The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Adebowale Lawal, praised the Yaba Division officers for their professionalism and swift response that led to the breakthrough.
He also commended the Inspector General of Police for his reform-oriented leadership, which, he said, continues to empower the Force with tools for proactive and intelligence-led policing.
Lawal assured residents of the command’s sustained commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to remain law-abiding and to support the police with useful information.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, reaffirmed that the Ondo State Command would continue to intensify its crackdown on criminal networks and maintain visible security across all communities in the state.
