Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command attached to the Mowe Division have arrested a suspected vehicle theft kingpin, 28-year-old Mosuru Issa, and recovered a stolen wine-coloured Toyota Camry during a routine security operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The arrest occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, when police officers conducting stop-and-search duties along the Mowe axis flagged down the vehicle.
Upon sighting the officers, the three occupants abandoned the car and attempted to escape on foot in different directions.
Police operatives gave chase and apprehended Issa, a resident of Osungboye Street in Agege, Lagos State, while his two accomplices managed to flee.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle had been stolen four days earlier, on September 7, 2026, from a parking spot in Ojoo, Lagos State.
Detailing the incident in an official statement issued on Saturday, September 12, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, highlighted the role of active highway surveillance in tackling cross-state crime.
“The incident underscores the importance of proactive policing, routine patrols, and lawful stop-and-search operations in detecting criminal activity, recovering stolen property, and preventing criminals from using Ogun’s highways as escape routes,” DSP Babaseyi stated.
Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the field operatives for their alertness and swift action.
“We reaffirm the Command’s firm commitment to proactive policing and sustained operations aimed at protecting lives and property,” CP Ojajuni said. “Our officers will continue to disrupt vehicle theft, highway crime, and other criminal activities across the state.”
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed that efforts are actively ongoing to trace the legitimate owner of the Toyota Camry and track down the two fleeing suspects. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Police authorities have advised vehicle owners to adopt additional anti-theft measures such as steering and tyre locks when parking in public spaces, while encouraging the public to report suspicious movements through the state emergency lines or the toll-free Gateway Shield line at 0800 000 9111.
