Operatives attached to the Idiroko Division of the Ogun State Police Command have foiled a cross-border vehicle trafficking attempt and arrested two suspects in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle a stolen 28-seater Toyota Coaster bus into the Benin Republic.
The suspects, identified as Seun Lawal, a 46-year-old male, and Ademola Oriyomi, a 38-year-old male, were arrested in the early hours of Friday, following credible intelligence received at approximately 11:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026.
According to police, the duo had positioned the vehicle earlier declared stolen from Lagos at the Babaloke area of Idiroko and were preparing to move it across the international border under false pretences.
The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adejuwon Ariyo, swiftly mobilised and led a surveillance team to the location. Upon intercepting the suspects mid-operation, operatives demobilised the vehicle by shooting out one of its tyres, effectively preventing its escape across the border. Both suspects were arrested, and the bus was recovered at the scene.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Lawal, a company driver, conspired with Oriyomi, his guarantor, to steal and sell the vehicle in the Republic of Benin.
The suspects allegedly admitted that the proceeds were intended to fund their relocation following the illegal transaction.
The suspects remain in custody as investigators work to determine possible links to broader cross-border vehicle theft syndicates operating within the border corridor.
Commenting on the operation, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, said the incident underscored the value of timely intelligence and disciplined policing.
“What happened in Idiroko reflects more than a routine interception; it tells a deeper story of trust in security and the quiet weight of vigilance,” DSP Babaseyi said. “A 28-seater Toyota Coaster bus is not a small or hidden object. It is large, visible, and difficult to move unnoticed. Yet the suspects allegedly still attempted to steal it and advance through the border, believing the opportunity outweighed the risk. From the moment intelligence was received, operatives responded swiftly, calm but firm, coordinated yet decisive, closing every gap the suspects hoped to exploit.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism and tactical precision of CSP Ariyo and the Idiroko Division operatives, describing the interception as a demonstration of effective intelligence-led policing.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to proactive policing, strengthened border security operations, and sustained efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of movement within Ogun State and its border corridors.
Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies promptly.
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