Three suspected armed robbers were arrested on Sunday by the Oyo State Police Command in connection to the hijacking of a truck carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirits, often known as petrol, on the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road.
Adewale Osifeso, the state Police Public Relations Officer in Ibadan, stated in a release that the recovered product is owned by NIPCO Petroleum Nigeria Limited.
He identified the suspects as Oyekunle Olaoluwa, 35; Akanji Ladele (real name undisclosed), 51; and Basiru Azeez, 30, who was the mastermind behind the hijack and subsequent diversion.
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The PPRO further stated, “On April 5, 2025, at approximately 1:00 am, 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, specialized 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 in the course of preliminary investigations, the suspects revealed that the hijacked truck was handed over to them by a third individual named Femi, who allegedly orchestrated the hijacking with the help of 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 added.
The police assured the public that they would continue their investigation with diligence, aiming to dismantle the criminal network and ensure that everyone involved is held responsible for their actions.
The PPRO urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the local police, stressing that their active involvement is crucial to the command’s collective efforts in combating crime.
