Osun Robbery: Suspects Reveal How Monarch’s Valuables Worth N50m Were Stolen

Three suspected armed robbers arrested by the Lagos State Police Command have allegedly confessed to participating in robbery operations along the Ife Expressway in Osun State, where about five vehicles were reportedly snatched and valuables estimated at N50 million carted away.

The suspects, identified as Chubuzor Anasihwe, 31; Uchena Steven, 26; and Ejike Ani, 31, were arrested by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit at two separate locations in Lagos following actionable intelligence.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday during a briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

Tijani said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to alleged robbery incidents on August 23 and September 30, 2026, along the Ife Expressway in Osun State.

According to him, about five vehicles were allegedly snatched during the operations, while valuables estimated at approximately N50 million were reportedly stolen.

He said one of the stolen vehicles, a Toyota van with registration number BDJ 180 AJ, registered in Oyo State, had been recovered.

The commissioner said, “Operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on actionable intelligence, traced and arrested three suspected armed robbers at two different locations in Lagos.

“The suspects are Chubuzor Anasihwe, 31; Uchena Steven, 26; and Ejike Ani, 31.

“Preliminary investigation linked the suspects to alleged robbery operations which occurred on 23/08/2026 and 30/09/2026 along the Ife Expressway in Osun State, during which about five vehicles were reportedly snatched, and valuables estimated at approximately N50 million were allegedly carted away.”

Tijani added that the suspects had made statements to investigators and were assisting the police in efforts to recover other stolen vehicles, arrest fleeing members of the alleged gang and recover weapons suspected to have been used during the operations.

One of the suspects, Ani, also allegedly gave investigators an account of how the gang encountered a traditional ruler during one of the operations.

Ani claimed that a gang member identified as Obina took them to the Ife Road area to snatch vehicles.

He said the gang allegedly did not use firearms during the operation but relied on cellotape and a stick.

According to him, the gang encountered the monarch after allegedly snatching a vehicle.

“When we collected the motorbike, we saw the king on the road. We saw the king’s vehicle parked on the road and we stopped.

“So Obinna collected the king’s bag and put it inside the vehicle. When we reached Lagos, he dropped us off.

“We didn’t even know the king’s bag was inside the vehicle. The police, after arresting us, said they found the king’s money inside the vehicle,” Ani said.

The suspect claimed that the police had already been tracking Obina but said he was unaware of his current whereabouts.

Ani, however, alleged that another member of the gang, identified as Izuna, had a locally made explosive device which was allegedly used during the operation.

“Izuna bought a banger and even the police discovered one of the bangers inside the car,” he alleged.

Explaining why he allegedly returned to robbery after previously serving a prison sentence, Ani said he was trying to raise money to establish a business.

“I don’t want to try this thing for my life again. I don’t do this because I’m looking for just a little thing to start a business,” he said.

He added that he had previously been involved in the sale of machine spare parts.

The police said investigations are ongoing, with efforts focused on recovering more stolen property and apprehending other members of the alleged gang.