The Oyo State Police Command has recovered a hijacked DAF tanker truck abandoned in the Ile-Igbon area of the state, following an intelligence-driven operation aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in vehicle hijacking.
The Command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, describing the recovery as another breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat crime and enhance public safety across Oyo State.
According to the police, the operation was launched after security operatives received credible intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle. Acting on the information, officers traced and recovered the tanker, which had reportedly been left unattended in the area for several days.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects abandoned the truck after discovering that law enforcement agencies were tracking their movements.
The command said intelligence gathered during the operation suggested that the criminals fled the area when it became clear that security operatives were closing in on them.
“Unable to retain possession of the vehicle in the face of heightened police pressure and intelligence-led operations, the suspects fled the area in an apparent attempt to evade arrest, leaving the truck behind,” the statement noted.
Following its recovery, the tanker was taken into police custody while investigations continued.
Further inquiries established that the vehicle had been hijacked by armed criminals along the Ijebu-Ode axis of Ogun State.
The police said the truck’s driver later identified the recovered vehicle, confirming that it had been forcefully taken from him during the incident.
The owner of the tanker also verified the account and informed investigators that the case had already been reported to the appropriate police authorities in Ogun State.
The Oyo State Police Command stated that it is collaborating with the Ogun State Police Command to complete the necessary administrative processes required for the release of the vehicle to its rightful owner.
Authorities also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the suspects who escaped after abandoning the truck.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to public safety, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, said the police would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies, operational resources and inter-agency collaboration to combat criminal activities across the state.
He also appealed to residents to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could aid crime prevention, detection and the arrest of criminal elements.
The Command further urged members of the public to report suspicious activities through its designated emergency and toll-free communication channels.
