OGUN POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED CAR THEFT KINGPIN, RECOVER STOLEN TOYOTA CAMRY

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspected vehicle theft kingpin, 28-year-old Mosuru Issa, and recovered a stolen wine-coloured Toyota Camry during a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Issa was arrested by operatives of the Mowe Division at about 7:30am on September 11, 2026, after police officers flagged down the vehicle around the Mowe axis for a routine security check. The operation reportedly prevented the suspects from taking the vehicle further into Ogun State. 

According to the police, the vehicle had three occupants when officers stopped it, but the men reportedly abandoned the car and fled in different directions after sighting the operatives. The officers immediately gave chase, leading to the arrest of Issa, who was identified as a resident of Osungboye Street, Agege, Lagos State. The other two occupants managed to escape, while the Toyota Camry was secured by the police and taken into custody as part of the investigation.

Preliminary findings by the police showed that the recovered vehicle had allegedly been stolen on September 7, 2026, from where it was parked in Ojo, Lagos State. Investigators are now working to establish how the vehicle was stolen, how it was moved from Lagos to Ogun and the roles played by the three occupants. Police are also expected to investigate whether Issa and the two fleeing suspects are connected to other vehicle theft incidents in Lagos, Ogun and other parts of the country.

The Ogun Police Command said the recovery demonstrated the importance of regular patrols, intelligence gathering and lawful stop-and-search operations in detecting criminal activities along major highways. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is an important route connecting the two states, and the police said such proactive operations can help prevent criminals from using the highway to transport stolen vehicles or other illicit property away from the areas where offences are committed.

The arrested suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue, while efforts are underway to apprehend the two other occupants who escaped from the scene. The Ogun State Police Command said it would continue intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting vehicle theft and other forms of highway crime across the state. Authorities also urged members of the public to provide useful information that could assist investigators in identifying other members of suspected vehicle theft networks and recovering stolen property.