Passenger tricks Ibadan driver, sells his car for N700,000

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 60-year-old man, Femi Ojo, and two others over the theft and resale of a Toyota Carina E in Ibadan.

The police said Ojo allegedly posed as a passenger before tricking the owner of the vehicle and stealing the car through an accomplice.

The stolen vehicle, with registration number GGE 488 CN, was later traced to Akure, Ondo State, where it had allegedly been resold and repainted to hide its identity.

Police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the case was reported at the Agodi Divisional Police Headquarters on Friday, July 3, 2026, by the owner of the vehicle, Ruben Adebayo, a 55-year-old resident of Akobo, Ibadan.

According to the police, Adebayo had conveyed Ojo from Akobo to the Motor Spare Parts Market at Gate, Ibadan.

Ojo allegedly told the driver he wanted to buy a vehicle engine and other spare parts.

On getting to the market, the suspect reportedly inspected engines and negotiated with traders, but later bought only a vehicle shaft.

He then told the driver that he had found another place where he could get a suitable engine.

Police said Ojo left the market on a commercial motorcycle and asked the driver to wait behind with the vehicle shaft.

Shortly after, he allegedly called Adebayo and asked him to send the vehicle shaft to the new location through a commercial motorcycle rider, claiming it would be faster.

Trusting him, the driver parked and locked his Toyota Carina E before leaving the spot to deliver the item.

But unknown to him, the suspect had allegedly planted an accomplice at the spare parts market to steal the vehicle once he left.

When Adebayo got to the location, Ojo had disappeared.

He immediately returned to where he parked his car, only to discover that it had been stolen.

The police said detectives launched an intelligence-led investigation and tracked the principal suspect to Akure, Ondo State.

Further investigation allegedly revealed that Ojo and his fleeing accomplice sold the vehicle for N700,000 to Kayode Afolabi, 49.

Afolabi then allegedly resold the same car for N800,000 to Olatunji Mutiu, also 49.

Police said both Afolabi and Mutiu were later arrested, while the stolen vehicle was recovered at the Motor Spare Parts Market, Oyarugbulem, Akure.

The command said the suspects had changed the original Oyo State commercial colour of the vehicle to green in an attempt to disguise it.

Investigators also discovered that the latest receiver had already started dismantling the car by removing its engine and gearbox.

The removed components have since been recovered, while the vehicle has been towed to a secure police facility.

Ayanlade said Ojo and the two suspected receivers confessed to their roles in the crime.

He added that the suspects would be charged in court at the end of investigations, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice and dismantle the remaining criminal network.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Olugbenga Abimbola, praised the operatives for the breakthrough.

He said the operation showed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and its determination to rid the state of criminal elements.

The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information that could help security agencies tackle crime.