Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command said on Sunday that they had dismantled an interstate armed robbery and truck-hijacking syndicate, arresting four suspects and recovering a stolen Sino Howo truck.

According to the Command’s Spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka, in a statement, the syndicate specialised in “the hijacking, diversion and stealing of trucks from unsuspecting drivers within Oyo State and neighbouring states, before moving the stolen vehicles to criminal receivers in Kwara State.”

He explained that the breakthrough followed actionable intelligence and a tip-off indicating that the gang would strike on August 24, 2026.

“Acting on directives from the Commissioner of Police, operatives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) mounted an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“During the operation, officers intercepted the white-coloured Sino Howo truck and apprehended two male suspects: Ojedokun Olakunle Isaac, a motor boy attached to the truck’s driver, and his accomplice, Ajuwon Ismail.

“At the time of the interception, the recovered truck had already had its back body/bucket removed and was being driven towards the Ogbomoso/Ilorin axis for onward delivery and sale to a criminal receiver.”

He added that, under interrogation, Ojedokun confessed to masterminding the hijacking of the truck from his master along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on August 24 at approximately 2300 hours.

The disclosures provided critical leads that enabled police to track down and arrest two additional syndicate members, Adekunle Sunday and Rasheed Music.

He said Police investigations also revealed specific roles within the criminal network. “Adekunle Sunday routinely played the role of the syndicate’s designated driver whenever a truck was hijacked, helping to securely drive the stolen vehicle to the criminal receiver.”

Meanwhile, Rasheed Music “specialised in removing vehicle trackers and other electronic devices used for the identification and location of the trucks, thereby frustrating efforts to trace or recover the stolen vehicles.”

He assured that law enforcement efforts are ongoing to recover the detached back body of the truck and apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

Commending the public, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, expressed appreciation for “members of the public for their timely and credible information, which contributed to the success of the operation.”

He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to intelligence-led policing and the sustained dismantling of criminal networks across the state, while urging residents to continue sharing actionable security information. (The Nation)