Police Arrest Suspected Robber, Recover Stolen Motorcycle in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a stolen motorcycle in Ibadan following a swift response to a distress report.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, after the command received credible information from a member of the public that a commercial motorcyclist had been attacked and dispossessed of his motorcycle along Adeniji Estate, Apata, Ibadan.

The victim, identified as Muhammadu Kamilu, was reportedly attacked by a passenger who struck him with an iron hammer before making away with his Bajaj Boxer motorcycle.

The police said operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit immediately swung into action after receiving the report.

“Acting promptly on the actionable intelligence, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) were immediately deployed to the scene. Their swift intervention culminated in the arrest of the suspect, Shafiu Nuhu, and the recovery of the stolen Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number AJW 842 QU, as well as the iron hammer allegedly used in perpetrating the attack,” the statement read.

The command disclosed that Kamilu sustained injuries during the assault.

It added that a good Samaritan, Nathaniel Ibrahim, who attempted to rescue the victim from the attacker, also suffered injuries during the incident.

According to the police, both men were promptly evacuated to a nearby hospital, where they received medical attention and were reported to be responding to treatment.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to operating as a lone robber who specifically targeted commercial motorcyclists within Ibadan.

The police said preliminary investigations indicated that he used the guise of being a passenger to lure motorcycle operators before attacking them and stealing their motorcycles.

The recovered motorcycle and the iron hammer allegedly used in the attack have been taken into police custody as exhibits.

The command assured residents that investigations were continuing to determine whether the suspect was linked to other similar robbery incidents reported in the state.

The Oyo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to tackling violent crimes across the state and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

It also commended members of the public whose timely information contributed to the suspect’s arrest and the successful recovery of the stolen motorcycle.