The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers believed to be members of a notorious car-snatching syndicate targeting Uber drivers in Ibadan.
The suspects, identified as Tunde Bukola and Moyowa Faleye were apprehended at Liberty Road area of the state capital.
According to reports, local neighbourhood watchmen had alerted security operatives about the duo, who were said to specialise in luring Uber drivers to isolated locations before dispossessing them of their vehicles.
A police source revealed that the suspects were trailed after one of them used a mobile number, 09036731930, to book a ride. The number had earlier been circulated among drivers as a red flag.
“On sensing that they had been set up, the suspects attempted to jump out of the vehicle but were arrested by a surveillance team,” the source said.
During the arrest, a bicycle handle, suspected to have been used as an improvised weapon to intimidate victims, was recovered at the scene.
The police further disclosed that two previous victims had already identified the suspects as the robbers who forcefully took their vehicles in separate operations.
Meanwhile, investigations were ongoing to track down other accomplices and recover stolen vehicles linked to the syndicate.