Police arrest four suspected truck hijacking syndicate members in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery and truck-hijacking syndicate specialising in the hijacking, diversion and stealing of trucks from unsuspecting drivers within Oyo and neighbouring states, before moving the stolen vehicles to criminal receivers in Kwara State.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed in a statement released on Sunday, made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Ayanlade said the arrest was successfully effected through actionable intelligence and a tip-off from members of the public.

According to Ayanlade, the Command was reliably informed that the syndicate which specialises in truck hijacking, diversion and stealing, would be operating on August 24, 2026.

He added that following the information, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Olugbenga directed operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to mount an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Acting on the directive, operatives of the VCRU swung into action and successfully intercepted a white-coloured SINO HOWO truck and arrested two male suspects, identified as Ojedokun Olakunle Isaac, the motor boy attached to the driver of the truck, and his accomplice, Ajuwon Ismail. 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 said.

The Command’s PPRO said one of suspects, Ojedokun Olakunle Isaac, confessed to masterminding the hijacking of the truck from his master along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“During interrogation, Ojedokun Olakunle Isaac confessed to masterminding the hijacking of the truck from his master along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. His confession provided further leads which enabled operatives to track and arrest two other members of the syndicate, identified as Adekunle Sunday and Rasheed Music,” Ayanlade said.

Ayanlade added: “Investigation into the activities of the syndicate revealed that 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. It was also discovered that 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.

“Further investigation revealed that the syndicate had operated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on 24 August 2026 at about 2300hrs, where the said truck was hijacked and subsequently diverted towards the Ogbomoso/Ilorin axis for onward sale. The intelligence-led intervention of the VCRU operatives disrupted the syndicate’s plan and resulted in the recovery of the vehicle.

“Efforts are currently ongoing to recover the detached back body of the truck and apprehend other members of the syndicate who are still at large.”

The CP appreciated members of the public for their timely and credible information, which he said contributed to the success of the operation.

He reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the sustained dismantling of criminal networks across Oyo State.