Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested an Indian national and two other suspects over the alleged assault on two truck drivers in the state, in an operation that followed a distress call and a swift response by operatives of the Command.
The incident occurred on Monday, October 12, 2026, at about 2 p.m. when a distress call was received at the Iyana Offa Police Divisional Headquarters in Ibadan, reporting that two Dangote truck drivers were being assaulted and detained at the site of an Indian-owned company. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised a patrol team to the scene.
The statement, signed by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, said that on arrival, the operatives found the two drivers — Abdulkadir Sulaiman and Usman Sani, both from Kano State — being subjected to assault. The police said a company official, identified as Fahad, allegedly ordered that the drivers be detained alongside their truck, and that they were also robbed of the sum of N200,000. The statement further said one of the drivers, Abdulkadir Sulaiman, sustained severe injuries as a result of the assault.
The police said preliminary findings revealed that the crisis began after a dispute over the weight of the goods the drivers were delivering. The company allegedly insisted that the goods were short in weight, and the disagreement escalated into the detention and assault of the drivers. The two victims were rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, while the police arrested the suspects at the scene.
The statement named the arrested suspects as 35-year-old Indian national Sharma Vikrant, 31-year-old Seyi Ogunyemi and 30-year-old Pelumi Afolabi. "Three suspects — Sharma Vikrant (Indian national, 35), Seyi Ogunyemi (31) and Pelumi Afolabi (30) — have been arrested over the alleged assault on two truck drivers and have been taken into custody," the statement read.
The Commissioner of Police said an investigation into the incident was ongoing and that the case would be charged to court upon its conclusion. He reiterated the Command's commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that those who take the law into their own hands face the full weight of the law. He also urged members of the public to report disputes to the police rather than resorting to self-help. "The Command remains resolute in ensuring that everyone within Oyo State, regardless of nationality, is protected under the law and that anyone found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law," the statement said.
The incident has drawn attention to the treatment of truck drivers in Nigeria's haulage industry, where disputes over cargo weight, delivery schedules and loading fees are common. Truck drivers often face delays, extortion and, in some cases, physical assault at the hands of companies, touts and security personnel. The Oyo State Police Command's swift response in this case is notable, and it reflects an effort to enforce the law even when the suspects are foreign nationals or company officials, a category of suspect that is sometimes perceived as insulated from accountability.
The case also touches on the broader issue of foreign nationals and their treatment of Nigerian workers. While the specific circumstances of the dispute over the weight of goods remain under investigation, the allegation that company personnel detained and assaulted Nigerian drivers over a commercial disagreement has drawn public attention. The police have not disclosed whether the company in question has a history of similar disputes, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The political context of the arrest is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers. Oyo State, as a key South-West state, will be one of the battlegrounds in the presidential contest, and the conduct of the state police command will be part of the broader assessment of the security environment in which the elections will be conducted. Governor Makinde has consistently emphasised his administration's commitment to security and the rule of law, and the swift police response in this case is consistent with that posture.
For the two truck drivers, the police intervention brought an end to their ordeal and offered them the prospect of justice. For the suspects in custody, the investigation will determine their culpability and whether they will face prosecution. For the Oyo State Police Command, the case is another test of its capacity to respond swiftly to distress calls and to hold accountable those who violate the law, regardless of their nationality or status. As the Commissioner of Police put it, the Command remains committed to ensuring that everyone within Oyo State is protected under the law, and anyone found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The coming weeks will reveal whether the investigation produces charges and whether the case serves as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to take the law into their own hands.
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