VIDEO: Suspected Bandit in Full Army Camouflage Arrested in Osogbo

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan

VIDEO: Suspected Bandit in Full Army Camouflage Arrested in Osogbo

A suspected bandit operating in full military camouflage was apprehended on Wednesday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, sending shockwaves through the community and raising fresh alarms over the increasing criminal tactic of using military attire to evade security checkpoints. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been officially released by security agencies, was intercepted by a joint team of local vigilantes and eagle-eyed residents who noticed suspicious movements in a busy quarter of Osogbo. Witnesses at the scene reported that the individual was dressed entirely in standard Nigerian Army camouflage, a tactic increasingly deployed by criminal syndicates across the country to bypass security and infiltrate urban communities.

According to eyewitness accounts, local vigilantes and intelligence officers in Osun State grew suspicious when the individual failed to display the typical discipline or credentials of an official military officer. Upon interception, the suspect was immediately disarmed, subdued, and bundled into a security vehicle to prevent an angry mob from carrying out jungle justice. The incident marks a chilling escalation in the security dynamic of the Southwest, a region that has historically remained largely insulated from the overt, daylight bandit operations common in the Northwest and North-Central zones. The arrest in Osogbo highlights an ongoing national security challenge regarding the easy accessibility of military gear to non-state actors.

The suspect has been moved to an undisclosed high-security facility for deep interrogation. Operatives are currently working to establish three critical pieces of information: the source of the military gear and whether an internal logistical leak exists within military supply chains; the suspect’s mission and whether the individual is part of an advanced scout team planning coordinated abductions or armed robberies within Osun State; and network affiliations, including whether there are active local collaborators providing safe houses for criminal elements within the state capital.

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The arrest comes amid heightened tensions across Osun State following days of conflicting reports about bandit activity. Just one day before the apprehension, on Tuesday, there was widespread panic in four local government areas of Osun State following rumoured presence of bandits in communities, leading parents to withdraw their children from schools and disrupting academic activities. The unverified claims on social media raised panic that bandits were attempting to infiltrate Ila, Ifelodun (Ikirun), Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas. Schools shut down immediately in affected areas, with students seen running in fear on the roads as the situation intensified.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement through his spokesman, urged residents to ignore the claims of school kidnapping, which he tagged a “false alarm,” reassuring Osun people that his government has taken proactive steps to secure schools. The governor also revealed that Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) abandoned by the previous administration have been fully refurbished and are ready for deployment to strengthen security across the state. He described the recent school kidnapping rumours as “the handiwork of evil opposition elements seeking to plunge the state into chaos,” emphasizing that fact checks from border areas and across the state confirmed there was no case of kidnappings.

The Osun State Police Command has repeatedly warned residents against spreading unverified security information. On Monday, the command dismissed reports of a banditry invasion in parts of the state, describing them as “unfounded and misleading” and warning that those spreading such alerts would be investigated and prosecuted. In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command said it had noted with concern the circulation of false information on social media alleging that bandits had invaded some communities in Osun. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, issued a strong warning to individuals and groups behind the rumours, noting that the spread of unverified information undermines public confidence and constitutes a threat to public peace and security.

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“Extensive security assessments and intelligence gathering conducted by the Command have not substantiated the claims being circulated,” CP Gotan noted. “Anyone found spreading false information, capable of causing public disorder or inciting fear, will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law.”

Wednesday’s arrest in Osogbo is not an isolated incident. Security analysts have long warned that the proliferation of counterfeit or stolen uniforms undermines public trust and complicates the work of legitimate security personnel. Kidnappers and bandits routinely use military apparel to set up illegal roadblocks, making it extremely difficult for commuters to distinguish between authentic law enforcement officers and criminal elements. The presence of an armed suspect in camouflage within the Osun State capital suggests a dangerous shift from rural forest bases toward major southern commercial centers. This urban infiltration tactic represents a significant escalation in criminal methodology.

In a similar case in June 2025, the Osun Amotekun Corps arrested a 38-year-old man, Adesina Peter, for alleged theft, impersonation, and unlawful possession of military attire. According to the Amotekun Corps Commander, the suspect donned a Nigerian Army camouflage uniform to carry out criminal activities, including robbing unsuspecting residents under the guise of military authority. The incident occurred in the Modakeke area, where Peter allegedly entered a resident’s home and stole a motorcycle. The suspect was subsequently remanded in Ile-Ife Correctional Centre. The trend extends beyond Osun State as well. In neighboring Ondo State, the Amotekun Corps recently arrested a fake military officer, a suspected spy, and 37 other individuals for various criminal offences across the state.

The Osun State Police Command has urged residents to remain completely calm but highly vigilant, requesting that any individuals wearing military or police uniforms who exhibit suspicious behaviours be reported immediately to the nearest police division. The command has deployed covert operatives and Violent Crime Response Units across the state, with security agencies remaining on alert and working round the clock to guarantee safety. Residents are advised to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing on social media, as spreading false information is a criminal offence that attracts prosecution.

As of press time, interrogation of the suspect continues at an undisclosed facility, with security agencies hopeful that valuable intelligence will be extracted to prevent potential attacks and uncover any broader criminal network operating within the state.