Operatives of Oyo State Police Command have arrested three persons, suspected ro be members of a criminal syndicate that masterminded the hijacking and diversion of a DAF truck, loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The suspects reportedly had hands in the hijacking of the tanker at a spot on Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road, between 12midnight and 1a.m., on Apil 5, this year.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the command, Adewale Osifeso, a Chief Superintendent of Police, in a statement he issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Johnson Adenola, said the hijacked and diverted PMS belonged to NIPCO Petroleum Nigeria Limited.
His words: “On April 5, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., the Command’s Monitoring Unit received actionable intelligence regarding a hijacking incident involving a DAF truck with registration number ADAMAWA YLA 575 ZY on the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road.
“Preliminary investigations indicated the involvement of an armed group equipped with sophisticated firearms.
“In response to this intelligence, specialised operatives from the Command’s Monitoring Unit were swiftly activated to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. Their efforts led to the discovery of the hijacked truck at Lincoln Filling Station, Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the suspects were in the process of siphoning the PMS.
Osifeso explained that upon arrival of police operatives at the fuel station, they apprehended two suspects, Oyekunle Olaoluwa,35, and Akanji Ladele (Real name undisclosed), 51, at the scene.
“During preliminary investigations, the suspects disclosed that the hijacked truck was transferred to them by a third individual known as Femi, who allegedly masterminded the hijacking alongside his accomplices.
“This revelation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of Basiru Azeez, 30, a pivotal figure in the operation who has since confessed to his role in orchestrating the hijacking and provided details on how the truck was diverted after the crime,” he said.
Osifeso assured the public that investigations would continue diligently, focusing on dismantling the criminal network and holding all individuals involved accountable for their actions.
He continued: “The Command encourages members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the local police, emphasising that active participation is vital to the command’s collective effort in fighting against crime.”