The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three individuals in connection with the hijacking of a truck carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road.
Adewale Osifeso, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, shared details of the incident in a statement, revealing that the stolen fuel belonged to NIPCO Petroleum Nigeria Limited. The suspects were identified as Oyekunle Olaoluwa, 35; Akanji Ladele (real name undisclosed), 51; and Basiru Azeez, 30, who is accused of masterminding the hijacking and diversion.
Osifeso provided further details, saying, “On April 5, 2025, at around 1:00 am, the command’s monitoring unit received credible intelligence regarding a hijacking involving a DAF truck with registration number Adamawa YLA 575 ZY along the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan road. Early investigations indicated that an armed group, heavily armed with sophisticated firearms, was involved.”
He added, “In response, the police quickly deployed specialized operatives to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators. Their efforts led to the discovery of the hijacked truck at Lincoln Filling Station, Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the suspects were caught in the act of siphoning the fuel.”
The PPRO went on to explain that the suspects disclosed that the truck had been handed over to them by an individual named Femi, who allegedly orchestrated the hijacking with his accomplices. “This revelation led to the identification and arrest of Basiru Azeez, 30, the mastermind behind the operation, who confessed to planning the hijacking and provided further details of how the truck was diverted,” Osifeso added.
The police have assured the public that their investigation will continue to dismantle the criminal network and bring everyone involved to justice. Osifeso also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
