A 22-year-old woman, Azeez Khadijat, has been taken into custody by detectives from the Omu-Ijebu Divisional Headquarters in Ogun State over her alleged involvement in the repainting of a suspected stolen Suzuki minibus.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, who said the operation followed actionable intelligence.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Sunday, April 19, at about 4:00 p.m., after reports that three men and a woman were spotted in a bush along Ikhasi Road, Kajola, via Omu, repainting a Suzuki minibus, popularly referred to as “Korope,” which had no registration number.
Investigations indicated that the vehicle, originally painted yellow, was being changed to white and blue in what authorities believe was an attempt to conceal its identity.
Acting on the information, detectives were swiftly deployed to the location. However, upon sighting the operatives, the suspects reportedly fled into the surrounding bush, leaving behind the suspect, who was arrested inside the vehicle.
The minibus was recovered and taken into custody at the police station. It was later identified as having a Lagos State registration number.
A search of the area also led to the recovery of several items believed to belong to the fleeing suspects, including three mobile phones, a power bank, a paint container, sandpaper, and a Type-C charging cable.
Preliminary findings suggest that the vehicle may have been used in criminal operations in Lagos State, with the repainting intended to alter its appearance and avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the remaining suspects, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism, assuring that all those involved in the crime would be apprehended and brought to justice.
