The Osun State Police Command has arrested three men in connection with the alleged transportation of prohibited substances after officers discovered five bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp inside an abandoned Toyota Sienna Space Bus along the Moro–Ife Road in Ife North Local Government Area.
The arrests were made on August 30, 2026, at about 1:30pm by operatives attached to the Violence Crime Response Unit, VCRU, Team E, while conducting a routine patrol along the road. The police said the discovery followed the officers’ decision to inspect a vehicle they found abandoned by the roadside under circumstances they considered suspicious.
According to a statement from the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, issued through the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the vehicle was a silver-coloured Toyota Sienna Space Bus with registration number BGT 81 OLG. The vehicle had reportedly broken down and was left by the roadside before the events that led to the arrests.
Police Intercept Suspects During Vehicle Recovery
The police said officers became suspicious of the abandoned Sienna and proceeded to inspect it. Their attention was later drawn to the vehicle when a man identified as Awo Omotayo, 38, arrived at the location with a red Nissan Cabstar bearing registration number EPE 299 YJ.
According to the command, Omotayo identified himself as the driver of the abandoned Sienna and had arrived with the Nissan Cabstar apparently to tow the vehicle away. He was allegedly accompanied by two other men, Abayomi Suleiman, 22, who was driving the Cabstar, and Oluwatayo Samuel.
The circumstances surrounding the arrival of the men prompted the operatives to conduct a search of the Sienna Space Bus. The police said the search led to the discovery of several bags containing weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
“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,” the command said.
Following the discovery, the three men were arrested at the scene. The police also recovered the suspected illicit substance, the Toyota Sienna Space Bus and the two other vehicles involved in the incident.
All the recovered items and suspects were subsequently taken to the Osun State Police Command headquarters as investigators began efforts to establish how the suspected substance came to be inside the vehicle and identify others who may have been involved.
Suspect Allegedly Names ‘Baba Ibo’
The investigation took a further turn during interrogation when Omotayo allegedly gave investigators information about the person he claimed had contracted him to move the suspected illicit substance.
The police said Omotayo identified the alleged principal behind the transportation as a man known as “Baba Ibo”. His real name, however, remains unknown to investigators.
According to the statement, Omotayo allegedly told the police that “Baba Ibo” had engaged him to transport the suspected illicit substance from Osun State to Ogbomoso in Oyo State. He further reportedly told investigators that the man operates around Garage Olode in Osun State.
The suspect allegedly disclosed that “Baba Ibo” was also in possession of the contact details of the person who was expected to receive the consignment in Ogbomoso.
The information has consequently widened the scope of the police investigation, with detectives now seeking to establish the identity and whereabouts of the alleged organiser, as well as determine the intended recipient of the suspected drug consignment.
The police have not disclosed the identity of the alleged recipient, while the man referred to as “Baba Ibo” remains at large.
Investigation Intensified
CP Zungura has directed that the investigation be intensified to determine the source of the suspected illicit substance and trace its intended destination.
The command said efforts were also underway to arrest “Baba Ibo” and identify other individuals who may have played a role in the suspected trafficking operation. Investigators are expected to use information obtained from the arrested suspects as they work to establish the wider network allegedly connected to the consignment.
The recovery of the suspected Indian hemp inside the Sienna also remains a central part of the investigation. The police said the substance, along with the recovered vehicles, had been taken to the command headquarters as part of the evidence being examined by investigators.
The arrests form part of the Osun Command’s ongoing efforts to detect and disrupt criminal activities through patrol operations and intelligence-led responses. In this case, the police said the discovery resulted from routine patrol officers paying attention to a vehicle that appeared to have been abandoned along the road.
Police Seek Public Assistance
The Osun State Police Command has appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators in locating suspects who remain at large.
The command particularly urged residents to support efforts aimed at identifying individuals involved in the alleged trafficking of prohibited substances and other criminal activities. Police said useful information from the public could help investigators apprehend fleeing suspects and prevent illicit substances from being moved through the state.
The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security authorities whenever necessary.
For now, the three arrested suspects remain subjects of the ongoing investigation, while police efforts continue to establish the identities of other persons allegedly connected to the suspected trafficking operation.
The police have described the recovered weeds as substances suspected to be Indian hemp, meaning their exact status remains subject to the investigative and evidentiary processes applicable to the case. The command has also not disclosed the final quantity or other forensic findings concerning the recovered material beyond stating that five bags were discovered.
As the investigation progresses, the major outstanding questions for detectives include identifying the alleged “Baba Ibo”, determining the source of the suspected illicit substance, establishing the intended recipient in Ogbomoso and uncovering whether other people were involved in arranging or facilitating the transportation.
The Osun Police Command said it would continue pursuing those leads while seeking the cooperation of members of the public in bringing other persons allegedly linked to the case to justice.
Osun Police Arrest Three Suspected Drug Traffickers, Recover Five Bags of Suspected Indian Hemp
