Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Oyo State Police Command has recovered a tanker truck hijacked by suspected criminals and abandoned in the Ile-Igbon area of the state, following an intelligence-led operation.
In a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said operatives traced and recovered the DAF tanker after receiving credible intelligence.
According to the command, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects abandoned the vehicle after discovering that security operatives were tracking their movements.
The police said sustained surveillance and operational pressure forced the suspects to flee, leaving the truck behind in an attempt to evade arrest.
The recovered vehicle was subsequently taken into police custody while investigations continued.
Further inquiries showed that the tanker had been hijacked along the Ijebu-Ode axis of Ogun State by armed criminals.
Police authorities said the driver later identified the vehicle and confirmed it had been forcefully taken from him. The owner also verified the incident, noting that the case had earlier been reported to the police in Ogun State.
The command disclosed that it was working closely with the Ogun State Police Command to complete the necessary procedures for the release of the vehicle to its rightful owner.
It added that efforts had been intensified to identify, track and arrest the suspects involved in the crime.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and collaboration with other security agencies to tackle crime.
He also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing and combating criminal activities across the state.
