Police foil motorcycle robbery, uncover forgery syndicate in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected motorcycle robber and recovered a stolen motorcycle in separate operations carried out in Ondo Town and Akure, as part of efforts to curb criminal activities across the state.

The command said the first arrest followed an attempted robbery on July 9 along Adepetu Street, off Flagship in Ondo Town, where a commercial motorcyclist thwarted an attempt by two passengers to dispossess him of his motorcycle.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the rider became suspicious after the passengers allegedly kept directing him around the town without stating a clear destination. He said the motorcyclist raised the alarm, leading to the arrest of one suspect, while his accomplice escaped.

Jimoh said police operatives, with the support of vigilant residents, responded swiftly, arrested the suspect identified as John Anthony and recovered the motorcycle intact. He added that a large screwdriver suspected to have been intended for the operation was also recovered, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Meanwhile, detectives uncovered a suspected forgery and stolen property syndicate after a man presented a receipt for verification. Preliminary investigations revealed that the document was forged and that the unregistered TVS ladies’ motorcycle linked to it had earlier been reported stolen.

Subsequently, a search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of a laptop containing suspected forged receipts, the stolen motorcycle, two Army camouflage trousers, a Samsung television set and a Domoclip air fryer. All the recovered items have been taken into police custody.

The police said investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspect’s activities, identify possible accomplices and recover other stolen property believed to be connected with the syndicate.

Reacting to the operations, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, commended the commercial motorcyclist and members of the public whose prompt action frustrated the robbery attempt. He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies, assuring that the command would sustain efforts to apprehend fleeing suspects and dismantle criminal networks across the state.