The Oyo State Police Command has recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested three suspects over alleged vehicle theft and receiving stolen property, in what it described as another major breakthrough in its fight against organised crime.

The recovered vehicle, a Toyota Carina E with registration number GGE 488 CN, was allegedly stolen on July 3 after its owner, 55-year-old Ruben Adebayo of Akobo, Ibadan, was lured into a carefully planned scheme by a suspect posing as a customer.

Police spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the complainant had conveyed the principal suspect, 60-year-old Femi Ojo, from Akobo to the Motor Spare Parts Market at Gate, Ibadan, where Ojo claimed he wanted to buy a vehicle engine and other spare parts.

According to the police, after inspecting and negotiating prices for several engines without reaching an agreement, Ojo purchased a vehicle shaft and informed the driver that he had located another place where a suitable engine could be obtained.

The suspect then left on a commercial motorcycle, instructing Adebayo to remain at the market with the purchased shaft until he called.

Ayanlade said Ojo later telephoned the complainant and requested that the shaft be sent to him through a commercial motorcycle rider, claiming it would be faster. Trusting the request, Adebayo parked and locked his vehicle before leaving with the item.

Unknown to him, an accomplice who had allegedly been stationed at the market stole the vehicle during his absence. By the time Adebayo arrived at the agreed location, Ojo had disappeared and the vehicle was nowhere to be found.

The report triggered an intelligence-led investigation by detectives of the Command, who deployed both technical and operational resources to track the suspects.
The operation led to the arrest of Ojo in Akure, Ondo State.

Further investigation revealed that Ojo and an accomplice, who remains at large, allegedly sold the stolen vehicle for ₦700,000 to 49-year-old Kayode Afolabi, who subsequently resold it for ₦800,000 to another suspect, 49-year-old Olatunji Mutiu.

Investigators later traced the vehicle to the Motor Spare Parts Market in Akure, where it was recovered.

Police said the vehicle’s original Oyo State commercial colour had been repainted green in an attempt to conceal its identity.
Investigators also discovered that the latest receiver had already begun dismantling the vehicle by removing its engine and gearbox. The detached components were recovered, while the vehicle was towed to a police facility pending the conclusion of investigations.

The Command said all three suspects confessed to their respective roles during interrogation and would be charged to court upon the completion of investigations.
Police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice and dismantle the remaining members of the alleged vehicle theft syndicate.

Commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, described the operation as a testament to the Command’s intelligence-driven policing strategy and reaffirmed its commitment to tackling organised crime.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring them that actionable intelligence would be professionally acted upon to protect lives and property.