Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
What began as a routine patrol along the Moro-Ife Road in Osun State turned into a major drug bust on August 30, 2026, when operatives of the Osun State Police Command intercepted a vehicle loaded with substances suspected to be Indian hemp, arresting three suspects and recovering three vehicles in the process. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, who disclosed this in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Friday, September 4, 2026, said the illicit substance was being conveyed to Ogbomoso in Oyo State when the vehicle transporting it broke down along the Ife Road in Moro.
According to the police spokesperson, operatives attached to the command’s Violence Crime Response Unit, Team E, were on routine patrol along the Moro-Ife Road at about 1:30 p.m. on August 30 when they came across a silver-coloured Toyota Sienna Space Bus with registration number BGT 81 OLG, which had broken down and was abandoned by the roadside. The operatives, noticing that something was not right, decided to snoop around the scene. Their suspicion proved well-founded when one Awo Omotayo, a 38-year-old male who identified himself as the driver of the faulty vehicle, arrived at the scene with a red-coloured Nissan Cabstar vehicle with registration number EPE 299 YJ, driven by Abayomi Suleiman, a 22-year-old male, accompanied by one Oluwatayo Samuel, for the purpose of towing the Sienna vehicle.
A search was immediately 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 suspects were immediately arrested, while the exhibits and the three vehicles were recovered and taken to the Command for discreet investigation. During interrogation, Omotayo disclosed that a man identified as Baba Ibo, who operates around Garage Olode in Osun State, allegedly engaged him to convey the substance to Ogbomoso. He added that Baba Ibo was said to be in possession of the contact details of the intended recipient, who was expected to receive the substance in Ogbomoso.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Zungura, directed a thorough investigation to unravel the source and intended recipient of the suspected illicit substance. The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend Baba Ibo and other persons who may be connected with the case. The police urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist in apprehending fleeing suspects and combating the trafficking of prohibited substances in the state.
The bust is the latest in a series of successful operations by the Osun State Police Command aimed at curbing the movement of illicit substances across state borders. Osun State, which shares boundaries with Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara states, has become a transit route for drug traffickers seeking to move contraband from the southern parts of the country to the northern markets. The Moro-Ife Road, where the interception took place, is a critical artery connecting Osun and Oyo states, making it a preferred route for smugglers who hope to evade detection by using less-patrolled roads.
The involvement of Baba Ibo, who operates around Garage Olode in Osun State, suggests the existence of a well-organised drug distribution network operating across state lines. The fact that Baba Ibo allegedly had the contact details of the intended recipient in Ogbomoso points to a pre-arranged transaction, with the consignment already sold before it even arrived at its destination. The police are now working to trace the recipient and dismantle the entire supply chain.
The interception of the Indian hemp consignment comes amid growing concerns over the rising prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in Osun and Oyo states. In February 2026, the Oyo State Police Command seized nine bags of Indian hemp and 101 wraps of Canadian Loud in Ibadan, while in August 2026, the Oyo State Police Command intercepted 101 wraps of Canadian loud, nine bags of Indian hemp, and other illicit drugs. These repeated seizures underscore the scale of the challenge facing law enforcement agencies in the region and the determination of the police to stem the tide of illicit drugs.
The three suspects now in custody face the prospect of prosecution under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and other relevant laws. The recovery of the three vehicles, including the Toyota Sienna and the Nissan Cabstar, will also aid investigators in tracing the financial networks behind the trafficking operation. The police have assured the public that they will not relent in their efforts to rid the state of illicit substances and bring drug traffickers to justice.
For the residents of Osun and Oyo states, the interception of the Oyo-bound Indian hemp consignment is a welcome development that demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to protect communities from the scourge of drug abuse. The police have called on members of the public to continue supporting the command with credible information that can assist in the fight against drug trafficking and other criminal activities. As Commissioner Zungura has made clear, the command will not rest until the source and intended recipient of the suspected illicit substance are identified and brought to book.
As the investigation continues and efforts to apprehend Baba Ibo intensify, the people of Ogbomoso and the wider Oyo State can breathe a sigh of relief that a significant consignment of Indian hemp did not reach its intended destination. The faulty Toyota Sienna that broke down on the Moro-Ife Road may have been a misfortune for the suspects, but for the community, it was a stroke of luck—and a testament to the vigilance of the Osun State Police Command.
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