Four suspected members of a syndicate allegedly specialising in the hijacking and diversion of trucks along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other routes in Oyo and neighbouring states are presently in the custody of Oyo State Police Command.
The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence and information from members of the public about the activities of the syndicate, which allegedly diverted stolen trucks to criminal receivers in Kwara State.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.
Ayanlade said the Command received information that members of the syndicate were planning to operate on August 24, 2026, prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, to direct operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to conduct an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
He said the operation led to the interception of a white SINO HOWO truck and the arrest of two suspects, identified as Ojedokun Olakunle Isaac, a motor boy attached to the truck driver, and his alleged accomplice, Ajuwon Ismail.
According to him, the truck had already had its back body, or bucket, removed and was being driven towards the Ogbomoso-Ilorin axis for onward delivery and sale to an alleged criminal receiver.
“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,” Ayanlade said.
He said preliminary investigation showed that Ojedokun allegedly masterminded the hijacking of the truck from his employer along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Ayanlade said information obtained during interrogation provided further leads that enabled the police to identify and arrest two other alleged members of the syndicate, Adekunle Sunday and Rasheed Music.
He said investigation indicated that Adekunle allegedly served as the syndicate’s designated driver whenever a truck was hijacked, while Rasheed allegedly specialised in removing vehicle trackers and other electronic devices used to monitor and locate the trucks.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Ayanlade added.
The police spokesperson said further investigation established that the syndicate allegedly hijacked the truck at about 11 p.m. on August 24 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and diverted it 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,” he said.
Ayanlade said efforts were ongoing to recover the detached back body of the truck and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate who remained at large.
The Commissioner of Police commended members of the public for providing timely and credible information that contributed to the success of the operation.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and sustained efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in Oyo State.
