The Oyo State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Corolla Sport that was snatched from an e-hailing driver in Ibadan during an armed robbery.
Police spokesperson, Osifeso Adewale, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday, adding that the vehicle, with registration number LSR 893CX, was traced and retrieved after an anti-robbery operation.
According to him, the recovery comes amid rising cases of ride-hailing drivers being robbed at gunpoint across the state.
“In recent weeks, there has been an alarming rise in reports of armed robbers attacking Uber drivers at gunpoint, resulting in the theft of their vehicles and cash,” the statement read.
He explained that the case was moved from the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper investigation.
Through surveillance and tracking, the Anti-Robbery Squad eventually located and recovered the stolen Toyota Corolla.
Reacting to the breakthrough, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police described the recovery as proof of the command’s determination to secure lives and property.
“The recovery of the stolen vehicle reflects our determination to confront crime proactively. We are dedicated to protecting our citizens and ensuring those responsible for these criminal acts are brought to justice,” he said.
The command further urged residents to report suspicious activities as it continues efforts to curb crime in the state.