‘One chance’ kingpin, two others arrested in Lagos

‘One chance’ kingpin, two others arrested in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended a notorious ‘One Chance’ kingpin and two members of his robbery gang in Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspects — 53-year-old Bode Oludayisin, identified as the gang leader, along with Michael Sowunmi, 22, and David Olawaye, 20 — were arrested during a routine patrol by officers from the Ikeja Division along Agege Motor Road.

According to the spokesperson of the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, their arrest followed a swift response to an alarm raised by a victim who was being robbed inside the gang’s operational vehicle, an unregistered commercial minibus.

One of the suspects, Oludayisin, has been on the police radar and was positively identified as a wanted figure linked to several violent ‘One Chance’ robberies in Lagos.

Items recovered from the suspects include a Tecno Spark 20 smartphone belonging to a recent victim, an axe, two concrete interlocking bricks, several large stones, and a broken bottle — all believed to have been used to intimidate or harm previous victims.

The vehicle used in the robbery, a minibus popularly referred to as Korope, was also impounded.

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Police investigations revealed the gang’s modus operandi involved disguising as legitimate commercial drivers and passengers to lure unsuspecting commuters, particularly from areas like Oshodi.

Once onboard, victims were taken to secluded locations and robbed at knifepoint or under physical threat.

“Investigations revealed that the gang operated using commercial minibuses, commonly known as Korope, pretending to be ordinary passengers.

“They often picked up unsuspecting commuters from locations such as Oshodi and then diverted them to unknown locations, where victims were robbed under threats, violence, and intimidation.

“Following the breakthrough arrest, the Command’s Special Squad 1 has taken over the case to arrest other fleeing members and dismantle the criminal network,” Hundeyin said in a statement on Monday.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, praised the officers for their swift and decisive action, which led to the gang’s capture.

He issued a public advisory, urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid boarding unregistered or suspicious vehicles, and to report any unusual activity to the police.

 

‘One chance’ kingpin, two others arrested in Lagos