The Oyo State Police Command has recovered a tanker truck allegedly hijacked by armed criminals and abandoned in the Ile-Igbon area of the state, as security operatives intensify efforts to track down the suspects.
The command said the recovery followed an intelligence-led operation aimed at dismantling interstate vehicle hijacking syndicates operating within the region.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing efforts to combat crime and protect lives and property across the state.
According to him, police operatives acted on credible intelligence which led to the discovery of the DAF tanker truck that had reportedly been left unattended for several days.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects abandoned the vehicle after discovering that security operatives were closing in on them.
The police noted that sustained surveillance and intelligence-driven operations made it difficult for the criminals to maintain possession of the truck, forcing them to flee the area to avoid arrest.
Following its recovery, the vehicle was secured and moved into police custody pending the conclusion of investigations.
Further inquiries established that the tanker was hijacked by armed men along the Ijebu-Ode axis of Ogun State before it was traced to Oyo State.
The truck driver later identified the recovered vehicle and confirmed that it had been forcibly taken from him during the incident. The owner also verified the account, noting that the matter had earlier been reported to police authorities in Ogun State.
The command said it was working closely with the Ogun State Police Command to complete the necessary procedures for the vehicle’s release to its rightful owner.
Olayinka added that efforts were ongoing to identify, locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling crime, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, said the police would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies, operational resources and inter-agency collaboration to curb criminal activities.
He also urged residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information capable of preventing crime and aiding investigations.