The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a Lexus 460 SUV valued at N45 million, just hours after it was allegedly stolen by the owner’s driver, while arresting one suspect over an alleged plan to sell the vehicle in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jeremiah Jacob Emmanuel, allegedly took the vehicle without his employer’s authorisation after driving him to work earlier in the day.
The theft was reported at the Agbado Police Division at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Friday, the police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said preliminary investigations indicated that the driver later drove away with the SUV, claiming that his wife was indisposed.
Babaseyi disclosed that the suspect allegedly took the vehicle to meet two other individuals, identified as Akeem Olawale and Monday Keshi, who is currently at large.
According to the police, the trio had allegedly arranged to transport the SUV to Cotonou, where they planned to sell it for N10 million, despite its estimated market value of N45 million.
Following the report, detectives from the Agbado Division launched an operation to track down those involved. Their efforts led to the arrest of one suspect at Agbado Crossing at approximately 7 p.m. on the same day, alongside the recovery of the stolen vehicle.
The police spokesperson said the arrested suspect allegedly admitted during preliminary questioning to being involved in the planned movement of the SUV to Cotonou for sale.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice, while the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, commended the detectives for their swift response and recovery of the vehicle.
