Oyo police intercept alleged car thieves, recover Lexus SUV

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Police Command has dismantled an alleged cross-border vehicle theft syndicate, arresting two suspects and recovering a Lexus RX 350 SUV reportedly stolen at gunpoint in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The operation was carried out by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following intelligence linking a criminal network to the movement of stolen luxury vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale in other countries. According to the police, the breakthrough followed information provided by a suspect already in custody in connection with an armed robbery case.

The suspect reportedly gave investigators details of a gang allegedly involved in receiving stolen vehicles and arranging their movement out of Nigeria. Consequently, the police placed him under controlled surveillance while monitoring his mobile phone activities. During the operation, members of the alleged syndicate reportedly sent him photographs of a vehicle they planned to steal and instructed him to arrange for its reception and transportation.

On August 24, the Oyo Command received an alert from the Kwara State Police Command about a 2017 Lexus RX 350 reportedly stolen from a woman at gunpoint at her residence in Ilorin. Following the alert, the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, directed VCRU operatives to intercept the vehicle along the Ibadan–Ilorin Expressway.

At about 4:00 a.m. on August 25, officers reportedly sighted the SUV and attempted to stop it. However, the occupants allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush. The officers pursued them and arrested two suspects, one of whom sustained a gunshot injury to his left foot during the operation.

The suspects were identified as 33-year-old Adewale Abiola and 36-year-old Kabiru Abobarin, popularly known as “KB.” Police said four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches, jewellery and other valuables allegedly belonging to the victim were recovered from the vehicle.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to receiving the SUV from members of the gang that allegedly stole it in Ilorin. They further reportedly told investigators that they were transporting the vehicle towards the border, where an ECOWAS document would allegedly be obtained to facilitate its movement into another country for sale.

Meanwhile, the Oyo Command said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged network and dismantle its wider criminal operation. CP Femi Haruna commended the VCRU operatives for their swift response and professionalism, while also praising the Kwara Command for its intelligence-sharing and cooperation. The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the operation underscored the importance of inter-state collaboration in tackling organised crime and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing.