Edo: Police arrest two, recover vehicles stolen in 2024

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have recovered a vehicle that was stolen from its owner in 2024 and arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.
The command also recovered another vehicle from the suspects.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Benin City.

Ikoedem identified the arrested suspects as Emmanuel Afolayan and Ezikiel Aguele.

She said the vehicle stolen in 2024 was intercepted and the suspects arrested by operatives attached to Textile Mill Road (TMR) Division on June 22, 2026, during a routine stop-and-search operation at a checkpoint along Siluko Road, Benin City.

She said the vehicle, a Daihatsu Hijet minibus, ash in colour, with registration number GBZ 646 YK, Edo State, belonged to one Dr Timothy Etinosa.

The command’s spokesperson said the owner had given the vehicle to Emmanuel Afolayan under a hire-purchase agreement.

She added that Emmanuel Afolayan, however, absconded with the vehicle in 2024 to an unknown destination, forged its documents, and subsequently sold it.

She explained that the arrest of the 46-year-old Ezikiel Aguele led to the apprehension of Emmanuel Afolayan.

According to her, preliminary checks on the vehicle revealed that the particulars presented by the driver were forged.

“Further investigation disclosed that the vehicle belongs to one Dr Timothy Etinosa, who had earlier given the vehicle to one Emmanuel Afolayan under a hire-purchase agreement.

“However, Emmanuel Afolayan absconded with the vehicle in 2024 to an unknown destination, forged its documents, and subsequently sold it.

“The driver of the vehicle, one Ezikiel Aguele, male, aged 46 years, was arrested. During interrogation, he led operatives to the arrest of the principal suspect, Emmanuel Afolayan, and the recovery of another vehicle that was similarly stolen,” she said.

Ikoedem further stated that the suspects, who have confessed to the offence, will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.