Ogun residents alerted to new tactics used by motorcycle thieves

The Ogun State Police Command has warned the public about a new method employed by criminals to snatch commercial motorcycles, following a recent attack reported at the Imasayi Divisional Police Headquarters.

The Guardian learnt that on February 17, 2025, at about 2:58 p.m., a commercial motorcyclist, Abdulwahab Ali, reported to the Dangote Police Post in Ibese that he was violently attacked and dispossessed of his motorcycle by two unidentified passengers.

In his statement, Ali recounted that at about 6:00 p.m. on the same day, he picked up two passengers at 1&2 Dangote Cement Gates, intending to drop them off at Balogun Village on his unregistered red Bajaj motorcycle. Upon reaching Balogun Village, the suspects directed him onto a narrow road several kilometres away from the highway.

Ali said the assailants sprayed a liquid substance on his face, assaulted him, and left him unconscious before fleeing with his motorcycle. He was also robbed of his Itel keypad phone.

The spokesperson for the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident yesterday, revealing that the stolen items were valued at N705,000. She added that police detectives had visited the crime scene and were gathering intelligence to track down the perpetrators.

“No arrests have been made, but concerted efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen motorcycle,” Odutola said. She urged commercial motorcyclists to exercise caution when picking up passengers in remote areas, warning that criminals are employing deceptive tactics to carry out such thefts.

“Ogun State Police Command strongly advises the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station,” she said, adding that public cooperation is crucial for ensuring safety across the state.