Police arrest two suspects over transnational crime in Oyo
Two individuals have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command in connection with a transnational crime involving the trafficking of stolen exotic vehicles.
The suspects, identified as Adewale Abiola and Kabiru Abobarin, are accused of transporting stolen cars across Nigeria’s borders for sale in other countries. Their arrests were made by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the police command.
Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade confirmed the arrests in a statement released Wednesday. He reported that operatives recovered several items from the suspects, including four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a bag containing seven wristwatches, and various pieces of jewelry.
According to Ayanlade, the operation began at approximately 4 a.m. on August 25, 2026, when VCRU operatives spotted a stolen Lexus SUV. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle for questioning, but its occupants fled in different directions into nearby bushes. A pursuit ensued, leading to the capture of two suspects, one of whom sustained a gunshot wound to his left foot during the chase.
Once in custody, Abiola and Abobarin reportedly confessed to receiving the stolen vehicle from a syndicate in Ilorin. They indicated that they were transporting the vehicle toward the border, where they planned to obtain an ECOWAS document to facilitate its illegal movement across international boundaries for sale abroad.
