Police Nab Suspected Tricycle Thief in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old suspected armed robber and recovered a tricycle allegedly stolen at gunpoint in Ilorin, Kwara State, following an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Oyo–Ogbomoso Road.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the operation was carried out by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit after receiving credible intelligence from members of the public.

According to the statement, the police were alerted that a suspected stolen tricycle was being driven along the Oyo–Ogbomoso Road, prompting operatives to mount a stop-and-search operation at the Irepo Area.

The police said the operation led to the interception of the tricycle, bearing registration number Lagos EPE 236 QR, and the arrest of the rider, identified as Akindele Seun, aged 31.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to robbing the owner of the tricycle at gunpoint in Ilorin, Kwara State, before fleeing with the vehicle into Oyo State.

The command said the recovered tricycle has been taken into police custody while efforts are ongoing to trace and identify its rightful owner for possible return.
It added that investigations are also underway to arrest other suspects connected with the crime.

Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring the state does not become a refuge for criminal elements.

He said, “The Command remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that Oyo State does not become a safe haven or breeding ground for crime and criminality.”

The commissioner added that “individuals who commit crimes within the State, as well as those who seek to transport the proceeds or instruments of crime into Oyo State, will continue to be identified, arrested, investigated, and prosecuted in accordance with the law, irrespective of where such offences were committed.”

Olugbenga further assured residents that the police would continue to deny criminals operating space in the state and urged members of the public to support security efforts by providing timely and credible information to the command.