In a remarkable display of cross-state detective work, the Oyo State Police Command has successfully recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested a 21-year-old suspect, Daniel Chinada Obidiukwu, in Gombe State. The recovery, which took place on August 3, 2026, marks the conclusion of a high-stakes operation that began when the vehicle was reported missing in Ibadan just days earlier on July 29, 2026.
The breakthrough was announced in a statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka. He detailed how operatives followed a trail of credible intelligence, systematically tracking the vehicle across state lines until they cornered the suspect in Gombe, located in northeastern Nigeria.
Upon his arrest, Obidiukwu was found in possession of the stolen car. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect allegedly drove the vehicle all the way from Ibadan to Gombe with the sole intent of selling it to an unsuspecting buyer. The vehicle has since been seized and is being held as an exhibit at the police station, while the suspect remains in custody for further interrogation.
Authorities are now working to determine if Obidiukwu acted alone or if he had accomplices. The Commissioner of Police for Oyo State, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, praised the officers for their relentless pursuit and investigative savvy. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to utilizing intelligence-led policing and inter-state collaboration to ensure that criminals find no safe haven, no matter how far they flee.
CP Olugbenga also used the opportunity to appeal to the public for continued support, urging citizens to provide timely and credible information to aid in crime prevention. “The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of a thorough investigation,” the statement concluded.
