Ogun Police debunk criminals’ bus report, probe two suspects arrested in Ijebu-Ode

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed as false a security alert alleging that a bus conveying suspected criminals was sighted along the Ibogun Road corridor in Ifo, clarifying that the occupants were road construction workers engaged on a federal government project.

The Command said police surveillance and anti-robbery operatives responded promptly to intelligence received on June 3, 2026, following reports that some youths had intercepted the bus over suspicions that its occupants were criminals.

However, investigations revealed that the vehicle was transporting 21 labourers employed by a construction company handling the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Ifo-Ibogun Road.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said further verification confirmed that the workers were legitimately engaged on the ongoing road project.

“The report linking them to criminal activities was found to be false and unfounded,” the police spokesperson stated.

According to the statement, officers reassured the workers of their safety and escorted them to their work site to prevent any harassment or disruption of the project.

The Command warned residents against circulating unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic and endangering innocent citizens.

Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into two male suspects apprehended by personnel of the Nigeria Forest Security Service in the Atiba area of Ijebu-Ode.

The suspects were intercepted during a security operation on Thursday and subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation.

Babaseyi said preliminary inquiries were underway to establish the identities of the suspects and ascertain the circumstances surrounding their activities in the area.

“The suspects will be subjected to a thorough and professional investigation in accordance with the law, while any further action will be guided by the outcome of ongoing inquiries,” he said.

The Command assured residents that there was no cause for alarm, stressing that security agencies remain vigilant and committed to maintaining peace and public safety across the state.

It also urged members of the public to continue supporting law enforcement agencies by providing credible and timely information to aid crime prevention and investigation.