By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a trailer driver who allegedly absconded with his employer’s trailer and four other suspects for alleged conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property, while uncovering a suspected syndicate involved in dismantling stolen trailers and selling their parts.

The police also recovered the trailer head and other components of the stolen vehicle during separate intelligence-led operations in Lagos and Ogun states, following weeks of investigation into the theft reported on June 6, 2026.

The Command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who said detectives from the Ifo Divisional Headquarters cracked the case after deploying technical intelligence to trace the fleeing driver.

According to the statement, the prime suspect, Temitope Omotayo Odulaja, 47, was arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on July 24, 2026. His confession subsequently led detectives to Ijebu-Ode, where Segun Suleiman, 27; Haruna Olaogun, 49; Jimoh Wasiu, 42; and Quazzim Suleiman, 49 were apprehended a day later for their alleged involvement in the criminal operation.

Police investigations revealed that the trailer had been dismantled shortly after it was stolen, with its parts allegedly disposed of through the syndicate. Detectives have recovered the trailer head and other components, while photographs of the dismantled vehicle have been taken as exhibits.

The command said investigations had exposed a suspected trailer-dismantling network, adding that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining parts of the vehicle, arrest other members of the syndicate and establish the full scope of its operations.

Commending the detectives, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, described the operation as a major breakthrough against organised vehicle theft.

“The arrest of the fleeing trailer driver, the subsequent arrest of his accomplices, the recovery of parts of the stolen trailer, and the uncovering of the suspected trailer-dismantling syndicate underscore the Command’s unwavering commitment to intelligence-led policing and its determination to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks operating within Ogun State,” he said.

The police commissioner urged transport operators, fleet owners, logistics companies and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities, assuring residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations to protect lives and property.