The Oyo State Police Command, on Monday, paraded suspected armed robbers, who allegedly diverted goods valued at N40m to an unknown destination.
The state Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, said his men were alerted that suspected highway robbers had ambushed a truck laden with generators and engine oil in the Akinyele area of the city.
He stated, “We received credible information that some notorious hoodlums, who specialised in hijacking and diverting trucks laden with goods on the highways, had hijacked a Mack truck laden with new SUMEC portable generators in the Akinyele area along the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway and diverted the goods valued at around N40m to an unknown destination.
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives swung into action and carried out a discreet investigation, and in the process, the following members of the criminal gang, who identified themselves as Adekunle Awoyode, Sarafadeen Abiodun, Ismail Oyelowo, Abiodun Azeez, Sulaimon Olamilekan, Olasode Hammed, Jelili Olowoaje, Hamish Tafa, Quadri Afeez and Wasilat Taiwo were arrested.
“Exhibits recovered include 410 pieces of brand new SUMEC portable generators, 560 four-litre gallons of Conoil engine oil, a Mark truck with number plate EKY 743 XF and a Toyota Camry car with number plate SMK 591 EQ.”
One of the suspects, Taiwo, the receiver of the goods, said she was promised N1m if the deal succeeded, adding that initially, she was not aware of the nature of the goods.
“They told me that the consignment was oil and that I would be given N1m if the deal worked out. I am a provision seller; I am not selling generator,” she told journalists.
The driver of the truck, Abiodun, said the generators and oil were being conveyed from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before he diverted the goods to Oyo State, noting that his own share would have been N1m if the deal had succeeded.
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