The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two men allegedly linked to a syndicate involved in trafficking stolen luxury vehicles from Nigeria to other countries.
The suspects, identified as Adewale Abiola and Kabiru Abobarin, were apprehended by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) during an operation in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
According to the police, the suspects were intercepted while allegedly transporting a stolen Lexus SUV towards the Nigerian border for onward movement to a foreign country.
Ayanlade said the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. on August 25, when VCRU operatives spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it for questioning.
However, the occupants reportedly abandoned the SUV and fled into the bush in different directions in an attempt to escape.
The operatives pursued them, leading to the arrest of two suspects. One of the suspects reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his left foot during the operation.
Police said a search of the recovered Lexus SUV led to the discovery of valuables allegedly belonging to the vehicle’s victim. The recovered items included four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches and jewellery.
During preliminary questioning, the suspects allegedly told investigators that they received the vehicle from members of a syndicate that had stolen it in Ilorin, Kwara State.
They reportedly further disclosed that they were taking the Lexus towards the border, where an ECOWAS document was allegedly expected to be obtained to facilitate its movement across the border for sale in another country.
The police said investigations are ongoing to uncover other members of the alleged syndicate and determine the full extent of their activities.
The suspects will be subjected to further investigation before being charged in accordance with the law.
