The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a transnational criminal network allegedly involved in receiving and moving stolen exotic vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale in foreign countries.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the command.
According to a statement issued by the command, one of the suspects already in police custody in connection with an armed robbery case, in which about 10 victims have so far volunteered statements, provided information about a criminal gang specialising in receiving and conveying stolen vehicles to foreign countries.
The suspect was subsequently allowed to operate his mobile phone under controlled circumstances. During the operation, members of the alleged syndicate reportedly sent him photographs of a vehicle they were preparing to steal and instructed him to arrange for its reception, preparation and movement across the border for sale abroad.
The development coincided with information received by the Oyo State Police Command from the Kwara State Police Command on August 24, 2026, requesting assistance in intercepting a Lexus RX 350 SUV, 2017 model, allegedly stolen from a woman at gunpoint at her residence in Ilorin.
The vehicle was reportedly stolen alongside other valuables belonging to the victim.
Following the alert, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police directed the VCRU commander to immediately deploy operatives along the Ibadan–Ilorin Expressway to intercept the vehicle and arrest those involved.
At about 4am on August 25, the operatives reportedly sighted the Lexus SUV and attempted to stop it for questioning.
The occupants, however, allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush in different directions.
The police said the operatives pursued the suspects, leading to the arrest of two men identified as 33-year-old Adewale Abiola and 36-year-old Kabiru Abobarin, also known as “KB.”
One of the suspects sustained a gunshot wound to his left foot during the operation.
A search of the recovered SUV allegedly led to the recovery of several valuables belonging to the victim, including four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a bag containing seven wristwatches and some jewellery.
The police said preliminary interrogation showed that the suspects confessed to receiving the vehicle from members of the syndicate who allegedly stole it in Ilorin.
They also reportedly disclosed that they were taking the vehicle towards the border, where an ECOWAS document was to be obtained to facilitate its movement across the border for sale in a foreign country.
The Commissioner of Police commended the VCRU operatives for their prompt response, professionalism and effective use of actionable intelligence.
He directed that the investigation be intensified to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate and dismantle the wider trans-national criminal network.
The command also commended the Kwara State Police Command for its cooperation and intelligence-sharing, stressing that sustained inter-state collaboration was critical to disrupting organised and trans-national criminal activities.
The Oyo Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led policing, stronger inter-agency collaboration and bringing criminal networks operating within and across the state to justice.
