A 60-year-old man and two others are now in the net of the Oyo state Police command over alleged theft of a vehicle in Ibadan.
The Oyo state Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement Sunday, said the three suspects confessed to their respective roles in the commission of the crime.
DSP Ayanlade added that on 3rd July, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., one Mr. Ruben Adebayo, a 55-year-old resident of Akobo, Ibadan reported to the Police that his Toyota Carina E, marked GGE 488 CN had been stolen by a passenger he had conveyed from Akobo to the Motor Spare Parts Market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan.
He stated that preliminary investigation into the complaint revealed that the principal suspect, Femi Ojo, aged 60, engaged the complainant under the guise of purchasing a vehicular engine and other spare parts.
“Upon arrival at the market, the suspect inspected various engine options and negotiated prices with traders. While negotiations for the engine proved unsuccessful, he purchased a vehicle shaft and thereafter informed the complainant that he had identified another location where a suitable engine could be obtained”, he said.
The PPRO added: “He subsequently boarded a commercial motorcycle to the new location, directing the complainant to remain at the market with the purchased vehicle shaft pending further instructions.
“In furtherance of the criminal scheme, the suspect telephoned the complainant and requested that he deliver the purchased vehicle shaft to the new location through a commercial motorcycle rider, stating that doing so would be faster and more convenient.
“Trusting the suspect’s explanation, the complainant securely parked and locked his vehicle before proceeding with the assignment. Unknown to him, the suspect had strategically positioned an accomplice, who is currently at large, at the Motor Spare Parts Market to steal the vehicle during his absence. Upon arriving at the designated location, the complainant discovered that the suspect had disappeared without a trace. He immediately returned to where he had parked his vehicle, only to find that the vehicle had been stolen.”
He stated that with the report and armed with these facts, detectives of the Oyo state Police command immediately commenced an intelligence-led investigation which led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Femi Ojo, in Akure, Ondo state.
“The investigation further revealed that Femi Ojo, acting in concert with his fleeing accomplice, sold the stolen vehicle for the sum of N700,000 to Kayode Afolabi, aged 49, who subsequently resold it for N800,000 to Olatunji Mutiu, aged 49.Building on this breakthrough, investigators extended the operation, leading to the arrest of Kayode Afolabi and Olatunji Mutiu, as well as the recovery of the stolen vehicle at the Motor Spare Parts Market Oyarugbulem, Akure.”