Operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe) have arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Oluwatobi Sangokeye, over alleged theft of a commercial tricycle.

The corps Director Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander, Adegunwa Adegbuyi, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Adegbuyi said the suspect was intercepted and taken into custody in the afternoon along the busy Atan/Owode Road in Ogun State, concluding a coordinated two-week intelligence-led operation.

“The operational breakthrough began two weeks ago when the victim, Mr. Babatunde, 44, a resident of Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos State, spotted a So-Safe Corps officer and reported the crime. The complainant revealed that Sangokeye had stolen his commercial tricycle with Number Plate; Edo, AKA-108VC and Chassis Number MD6M14PA9L4B00871, from his Lagos residence before fleeing across state lines into Ogun State,” the statement said.

The corps noted that upon receiving the report, the divisional officer of the satellite divisional headquarters under the Ado-Odo Igbesa Area Command, SC Elegbede, promptly briefed the Area Commander, ACC Oluti Kehinde. 

“Recognising the cross-border nature of the crime, ACC Oluti immediately ordered a high-priority tracking operation to locate the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen asset. 

“Subsequently, after fourteen days of intensive surveillance and tracking by dedicated operatives, the suspect’s luck ran out on Saturday, September 19, 2026; when he was cornered and arrested with the stolen tricycle on the Atan/Owode axis,” it added.

The corps, during preliminary interrogation, both the complaint and the suspect confirmed that the former gave the tricycle to the latter on hire purchase agreement but eventually absconded with the vehicle afterwards, and the suspect confessed that he stole it from Cele-Ijesha/Mile 2 axis of Lagos State in August.

It added that the suspect and the recovered tricycle had been transferred to the Ado-Odo police station for further interrogation and comprehensive investigation.

The state commander, Soji Ganzallo, commended the operatives of the corps for their persistence, professionalism and tactical efficiency.