Police recover stolen Toyota Camry in Ogun, arrest one suspect

The Ogun State Police Command has retrieved a stolen 2016 Toyota Camry from a hotel in Ifo and apprehended one suspect less than eight hours after the vehicle was reported stolen. The vehicle, owned by an Indian national working at Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos, was reportedly stolen on September 9, 2026, by the owner's driver, Waidi Olaide Kolawale.

According to the police, Kolawale had only been employed two days before the theft and claimed he was taking the car to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a tire before abandoning it. Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ifo Division, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, deployed surveillance and anti-robbery teams to track the vehicle.

The police identified the vehicle's location at a hotel in Ifo around 8:30 pm and apprehended Kolawale when he attempted to flee with the ignition key. His alleged accomplice, Monday Adetunji, was also arrested at the scene. Preliminary investigations revealed the suspects attempted to remove the vehicle's catalyst, but the mechanic refused.

The command highlighted the importance of swift reporting and coordinated police responses in disrupting criminal activities. The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised the Ifo operatives for their professionalism and vigilance. The police advised vehicle owners to use tracking devices and other anti-theft measures and emphasized the importance of caution when entrusting vehicles to others.