Dismissed Sergeant, others arrested for hijacking truck laden with N25m goods on Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway

THE operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a dismissed Sergeant and six accomplices who specialise in hijacking trucks loaded with companies’ goods along Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

The command spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement gave the suspects’ names as Onyegbuchi Nwafor ‘m’, Idakole Benjamin ‘m’, Ibrahim Musa ‘m’, Abolade Shola ‘m’, Ikem Ejimofor ‘m’, Adebayo Jamiu ‘m’ and Ayeye Edwin ‘m’.

He said the suspects were arrested following a distress call to Odogbolu Divisional Headquarters at about 3am on 8th of December 2021 that a gang of armed robbers had blocked the expressway and hijacked a truck loaded with some company goods.

“The robbers, overpowered the driver and motor-boy, took them to the bush and tied then before escaping with the truck.

“On the strength of the distress call, the Divisional Police Offucer SP Awoniyi Adekunle, quickly led his patrol team to the scene, but the hoodlums had moved away from there before their arrival.

“They started tracing the hoodlums based on the description of the hijacked truck.

“Their efforts paid off when the truck was sighted at Nairaland area of the expressway moving towards Ijebu-Ode Road.

“They were given a hot chase and three amongst the hoodlums namely, Musa Ibrahim ‘m’, Shola Abolade ‘m’ and Edwin Ayeye were arrested, while others escaped in a Honda space wagon car.

“By day break, the escaped ones contacted a lawyer and informed him that police had unlawfully arrested some of their friends.

“They engaged the service of the lawyer to solicit for their release from police custody.

“On getting to the office of the DPO, the lawyer was told to produce those who briefed him about the case before those in police custody can be released.

“The lawyer there and then called them to come as the case is about to be settled.

The duo of Nwafor Onyebuchi and Idakole Benjamin who was later identified as a dismissed police sergeant then came around and they were subsequently arrested by the DPO and his men.

“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to being the one that blocked the expressway and hijacked the truck from the driver after tying down the driver and his motor – boy.

“The suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), for discreet investigation on the order of the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole.

“At SCIID, the suspects after thorough investigation confessed that they have so far hijacked four trucks laden with different types of goods, such as pampers, Nutri C drinks, Blue band and Honey-well flour.

“The value of the hijacked goods so far is estimated to be ₦25,688,000.

“They confessed further that they have a readymade buyer, one Alhaji Jamiu who lives in Kwara State.

“The said Alhaji Jamiu was traced to Erin-Ile in Kwara State where he was promptly arrested.

Their major receiver and financier Ikem Ejimofor were traced to Jakande Estate, in Lagos where he was also arrested.

“While Alhaji Jamiu confessed that it was his own truck the suspects used in blocking the road when the last truck was hijacked, Ikem Ejimofor on his part confessed being the receiver of all the robbed goods which he bought at a very ridiculous price”, Oyeyemi revealed in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole who commended his men for their painstaking investigation has directed that the suspect must be arraigned in court without delay.