The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 10 individuals suspected of specialising in the forgery of official documents, stamps, and certificates belonging to government agencies, private organisations, and financial institutions.
The suspects were apprehended in a coordinated operation by the Command Monitoring Unit at a hideout located in the Ogunpa area of Ibadan.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the operation followed sustained intelligence gathering and community cooperation.
“On April 9, actionable intelligence was received indicating that a group of individuals specialising in the forgery of official documents, stamps, and certificates of various government and private organisations was operating from a hideout within the Ogunpa area of Ibadan,” Olayinka said.
He explained that operatives immediately launched a coordinated raid which led to the arrest of the suspects identified as Mumini Akanbi (62), Quadri Muhammed (31), Salami Tajudeen (50), Oladipupo Hammed (45), Oladipupo Taiwo (40), Olorun Sebi Kazem (42), Fatai Akanni (54), Alamu Kazeem (60), Olalekan Afeez (42), and Alex Olanrewaju (64).
The police spokesperson added that search warrants were executed at the suspects’ operational bases, where several incriminating items were recovered. These include a fake Police Character Certificate, Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stamps, Ogun State CID Eleweran office stamp, Iyaganku Area Command stamps, various Divisional Police Officer stamps, Oyo State government ministry and department stamps, as well as stamps belonging to banks and private organisations.
Olayinka further disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated the suspects were part of a well-organised syndicate engaged in producing and using forged documents for impersonation and other criminal activities.
“All suspects have confessed to their involvement in the criminal enterprise and are currently providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations,” he said.