Osun Police bust drug syndicate, arrest three suspects in abandoned vehicle sting

By Isa Isawade, Osogbo

In a significant breakthrough in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, operatives of the Osun State Police Command have arrested three male suspects and recovered five bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, concealed inside a broken-down Toyota Sienna Space Bus along the busy Moro–Ife Road.

The dramatic discovery unfolded on the afternoon of August 30, 2026, at about 1:30 p.m., when a team of police officers from the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Team E, while on routine patrol, stumbled upon a silver-coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number BGT 81 OLG. The vehicle had apparently developed a mechanical fault and was left abandoned by the roadside, raising immediate suspicion among the vigilant operatives.

Acting on their instincts, the officers conducted a thorough search of the area. Their patience paid off when a man later identified as Awo Omotayo, 38, arrived at the scene driving a red-coloured Nissan Cabstar truck with registration number EPE 299 YJ. Omotayo, who claimed to be the driver of the faulty Sienna, was accompanied by two others—22-year-old Abayomi Suleiman, who was behind the wheel of the tow truck, and one Oluwatayo Samuel. The trio had reportedly come to tow the stranded vehicle.

However, what began as a routine breakdown rescue quickly took a different turn when police operatives, suspecting foul play, decided to search the Sienna Space Bus. To their shock, they uncovered several bags packed with dried weeds, which preliminary analysis strongly suggested to be Indian hemp.

The suspects were immediately taken into custody, while the three vehicles and the illicit substances were impounded and transported to the Command for further investigation.

During interrogation, Omotayo made a startling revelation, telling investigators that he had been contracted by a yet-to-be-identified individual popularly known only as “Baba Ibo,” who reportedly operates around Garage Olode in Osun State. According to Omotayo’s statement, Baba Ibo engaged him to transport the prohibited consignment to Ogbomoso, in neighbouring Oyo State, and was also in possession of the contact details of the intended recipient waiting to receive the shipment at the destination.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has ordered that a discreet and comprehensive investigation be intensified without delay. He directed his men to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the source of the illicit substance, as well as tracking down the elusive recipient in Ogbomoso.

Already, security forces are hot on the trail of the fleeing mastermind, “Baba Ibo,” while intelligence gathering continues to identify and apprehend any other individuals linked to the criminal network.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the police reiterated their unwavering commitment to ridding the state of prohibited substances and criminal elements. He further appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and volunteer credible, timely information that could aid the ongoing investigation and assist in the arrest of fleeing suspects.

“Together with the public, we can put an end to the scourge of drug trafficking and ensure that our communities remain safe and secure,” the statement read.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will face the full weight of the law upon the conclusion of investigations, as the Command continues its relentless crusade against narcotics peddling across Osun State.