The Oyo State Police Command has smashed an alleged transnational vehicle theft syndicate, arresting two suspects and recovering a Lexus RX 350 SUV reportedly stolen at gunpoint in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The operation was carried out by the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following actionable intelligence linking a criminal network to the movement of stolen luxury vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale abroad.
Police said the breakthrough came after a suspect already detained over an armed robbery case revealed information about a gang allegedly specialising in receiving stolen vehicles and arranging their movement out of Nigeria.
Learn more
According to the Command, the suspect was placed under controlled surveillance while using his mobile phone. During this period, members of the syndicate allegedly sent him photographs of a vehicle they were about to steal and instructed him to make arrangements for its reception and transportation across the border.
Oyo Police bust cross-border car theft syndicate, recover Lexus SUV, arrest two
On August 24, the Oyo Command received an alert from the Kwara State Police Command about a 2017 Lexus RX 350 stolen from a woman at gunpoint at her residence in Ilorin.
The Commissioner of Police immediately ordered the VCRU to intercept the vehicle along the Ibadan–Ilorin Expressway.
The operation paid off at about 4:00 a.m. on August 25 when officers spotted the stolen SUV. The occupants allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush when police attempted to stop them.
After a hot pursuit, two suspects were arrested. One of them sustained a gunshot injury to his left foot during the operation.
They were identified as Adewale Abiola, 33, and Kabiru Abobarin, 36, popularly known as “KB.”
Police said the recovered Lexus contained four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches, jewellery and other valuables allegedly belonging to the victim.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to receiving the SUV from the gang that stole it in Ilorin. They allegedly told investigators that they were taking the vehicle towards the border, where an ECOWAS document would be obtained to facilitate its movement into a foreign country for sale.
The Oyo Police Command said efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the network and dismantle the wider criminal operation.
The Commissioner of Police praised the VCRU operatives for their professionalism and swift response, while also commending the Kwara Command for its intelligence-sharing and cooperation.
The Command said the operation underscored the importance of inter-state collaboration in tackling organised crime and reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led policing.
