Oyo police arrest two in alleged diversion of goods worth N32m
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly diverting goods valued at N32 million in Oyo town, Oyo State, in a crackdown on a criminal syndicate involved in unlawful conversion of goods in transit.
The suspects, identified as Olawale Kareem, 40, and Ogunbiyi Monday, 46, were arrested by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, Oyo Operational Base, following credible intelligence that led officers to their hideout.
Confirming the development in a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the operation also led to the recovery of an IVECO truck and trailer with registration number MUS 809 XY (Lagos), loaded with 570 bags of guinea corn allegedly diverted while being transported from Kaduna State. According to the police, the recovered consignment is valued at approximately N32 million.
Olayinka said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of a syndicate that specialised in diverting and unlawfully converting goods in transit for personal gain. He disclosed that both suspects had confessed to their respective roles in the alleged crime, adding that investigators were intensifying efforts to arrest other members of the syndicate and recover additional diverted goods linked to the criminal network.
The police spokesperson said the command remained committed to dismantling criminal groups engaged in economic sabotage and protecting legitimate commercial activities across the state.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and swift response to actionable intelligence, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, reaffirmed the command’s determination to safeguard lives, property and businesses.
The commissioner also warned individuals involved in criminal activities, particularly economic crimes, to abandon such acts or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
The Oyo State Police Command assured residents that investigations into the case would continue until every member of the syndicate is apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
