In a major breakthrough, crack detectives and special operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have successfully dismantled a notorious gang responsible for hijacking trucks conveying fuel and goods across the state.
The operation, carried out in the Ejigbo area of Lagos, led to the arrest of seven suspects, the recovery of a stolen fuel tanker, and the discovery of a filling station allegedly being used to offload and redistribute hijacked Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to a statement issued by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, the operation followed a report made by a tanker driver at the Surulere Police Division around 6:00 AM on Saturday. The driver reported that the tanker he was driving—loaded with 45,000 litres of PMS—was hijacked in transit around Alaka, Surulere.
Swift action by the police led to the recovery of the empty tanker in Orile, indicating that the stolen fuel had already been siphoned off. Acting on intelligence and investigative leads, operatives traced the stolen fuel to a filling station in Ejigbo, where another tanker was caught in the process of being loaded with the stolen product.
The seven arrested suspects have been identified as:
- Izuchukwu Nwanoruo (34) – businessman
- Kayode Falodun (29) – tricycle rider
- Ojo Ayodele (35) – mechanic
- Ayomide Thompson (24) – graphics designer
- Ahmed Saliu (37) – driver
- Igbalaye Kareem (38) – trader
- Babatunde Ahmed (38) – driver
All suspects were arrested at the scene and are currently in police custody, assisting with investigations. The second tanker, used for transporting the stolen PMS, has also been recovered and secured as evidence.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the swift and professional response of the operatives, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in Lagos. He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the police to support ongoing crime-fighting efforts.
All suspects, he assured, will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
For further updates:
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, anipr, mipra
Police Public Relations Officer
For: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command
