The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspected vehicle theft kingpin and recovered a stolen Toyota Camry along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Mosuru Issa of Osungboye Street, Agege, Lagos State, was arrested by operatives of the Mowe Divisional Police Headquarters during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Mowe axis.
The incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday when three occupants of the wine-coloured Toyota Camry allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled after sighting the police.
According to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the behaviour of the occupants raised suspicion and prompted officers to pursue them.
“Three occupants, on sighting the police, suddenly abandoned the vehicle and fled in different directions, raising suspicion,” Babaseyi said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The pursuit resulted in the arrest of Issa, while the vehicle was secured and recovered by the police.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the Toyota Camry had been stolen on September 7, 2026, from where it was parked in Ojoo, Lagos State.
Police authorities said efforts were ongoing to locate the owner of the vehicle and apprehend the two other occupants who escaped.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The development comes as the Ogun Command intensifies efforts to tackle vehicle theft, highway crime and other criminal activities across the state.
Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved in the recovery and arrest. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing and the protection of lives and property.
The command said the recovery also highlighted the importance of routine patrols, lawful stop-and-search operations and other preventive policing measures.
The police warned criminals against using Ogun highways as escape routes, saying security operations across the state would be intensified.
The command also advised vehicle owners to take additional precautions when parking their vehicles, particularly in public and unsecured locations.
Among the measures recommended were the use of tyre locks, steering locks and other anti-theft devices.
The arrest of the suspected vehicle theft kingpin and recovery of the Toyota Camry are now subject to further investigation as police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and identify the other suspects.
