Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a notorious “One Chance” robbery syndicate allegedly involved in robbing unsuspecting commuters along Ago Palace Way in the Okota area of Lagos State. The suspects were apprehended following a stop‑and‑search operation carried out by police operatives along the busy road, a corridor that has witnessed a spike in complaints of passengers being robbed inside commercial tricycles.
During the operation, officers intercepted a tricycle with registration number AAA 720 QL that was conveying about six occupants. While the vehicle was being stopped, the operatives noticed suspicious movements indicating that the occupants were in the process of robbing citizens. On sighting the police, the suspects immediately jumped down and abandoned the tricycle, fleeing on foot. A cutlass believed to have been used in their operations and a mobile phone were recovered at the scene from the abandoned vehicle.
Not satisfied with the recovery alone, detectives launched a follow‑up investigation that led to the arrest of all six suspects. They were identified as Basiru Rilwan, 23; Afeez Akeem, 25; Ademola Yekeen, 20; Sodipo Oyeyemi, 27; Ayomide Gafar; and Fabayo Michael, 28. During the arrest, operatives also recovered a dummy pistol allegedly used by the syndicate to intimidate and rob their victims. The imitation firearm, though not a real weapon, was convincing enough to make passengers comply with the robbers’ demands.
The term “One Chance” refers to a common criminal tactic in which commercial vehicle operators, often in collaboration with accomplices, pick up unsuspecting passengers and then rob them mid‑journey before pushing them out of the moving vehicle. The practice has become a significant security concern in Lagos and other major Nigerian cities, with victims losing phones, cash, jewellery and other valuables. In many cases, victims have also sustained injuries from being ejected from moving vehicles.
The Lagos State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining proactive policing strategies aimed at combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents across the state. The statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, noted that the suspects will be charged to court on the completion of the investigation. The command also encouraged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to aid ongoing efforts in ridding the state of criminal elements.
The arrest of the six suspects is part of a broader crackdown on One Chance robberies in Lagos. In recent months, the police have intensified stop‑and‑search operations, deployed undercover officers on commercial routes, and worked with transport unions to identify and flush out criminal elements posing as commercial drivers. Residents of Ago Palace Way and surrounding areas have welcomed the arrests, expressing hope that the police will sustain the pressure until the menace is completely eliminated.
As the investigation continues, the police have urged commuters to remain vigilant, avoid boarding tricycles or buses that already have an unusual number of occupants, and to report any suspicious behaviour to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines. The six suspects are currently in custody and will face prosecution for armed robbery, conspiracy, and illegal possession of firearms (even a dummy pistol is treated as an offensive weapon under Nigerian law when used to commit a crime).
The Lagos State Police Command has reiterated its zero‑tolerance stance on violent crime and has assured residents that patrols will be intensified along Ago Palace Way and other identified black spots. The public is also reminded that the fight against crime is a shared responsibility, and cooperation between citizens and law enforcement remains the most effective weapon against criminal syndicates.
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