The Osun State Police Command has arrested three men and recovered five bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp from a Toyota Sienna Space Bus abandoned along the Moro-Ife Road in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested on August 30, 2026, by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit, VCRU, Team E, while on routine patrol along the road.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the operatives came across a silver-coloured Toyota Sienna Space Bus with registration number BGT 81 OLG which had reportedly broken down and been abandoned by the roadside.
Ojelabi said the officers became suspicious of the vehicle and decided to inspect it.
He said the driver, identified as 38-year-old Awo Omotayo, later arrived at the scene with a red Nissan Cabstar vehicle, registration number EPE 299 YJ, driven by 22-year-old Abayomi Suleiman and accompanied by Oluwatayo Samuel.
The three men were reportedly at the scene to tow the abandoned Sienna.
“A search was conducted by operatives on the said Sienna Space Bus, during which some bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were discovered inside the vehicle,” Ojelabi said.
He added that the three men were immediately arrested, while the suspected illicit substance and the vehicles were taken to the command for investigation.
During interrogation, Ojelabi said Omotayo claimed that a man identified only as “Baba Ibo”, who allegedly operates around Garage Olode in Osun State, had contracted him to transport the suspected illicit substance to Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
According to the police spokesman, Omotayo also claimed that “Baba Ibo” had the contact details of the person expected to receive the consignment in Ogbomoso.
The police said the identity of “Baba Ibo” had yet to be established and that efforts were ongoing to apprehend him and determine the involvement of other persons connected with the alleged trafficking.
Ojelabi said the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, had directed investigators to intensify efforts to establish the source and intended recipient of the suspected illicit substance.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has directed that discreet investigation be intensified to unravel the source and intended recipient of the suspected illicit substance,” he said.
He added that the command was also working to arrest the fleeing suspect and other persons who may be linked to the case.
“Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect, ‘Baba Ibo’, and other persons who may be connected with the case, while investigation continues,” Ojelabi said.
The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist in apprehending fleeing suspects and tackling the trafficking of prohibited substances across the state.
The allegations against the suspects have not been established in court.