Police Apprehend Interstate Theft Suspects Following High Stakes Pursuit Into Ondo State River

Two men were arrested in Ondo State for interstate car theft after a suspect jumped into a river to escape police. The vehicle was stolen in Lagos.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 7:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Interstate Theft Ring Intercepted in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has disrupted a significant interstate criminal operation following the arrest of two suspects involved in a sophisticated car theft network. According to Police Public Relations Officer Abayomi Jimoh, the suspects, identified as 25 year old ThankGod Unchenna and 53 year old Adewole Muyedeen, were apprehended while transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines. The duo was intercepted as they attempted to move a silver Hyundai from Lagos to Abuja, a route frequently monitored by specialized units tasked with curbing the transit of illicit goods between the nation's commercial and political capitals.

The Dramatic Escape Attempt at Ogbese

The operation took a cinematic turn when the principal suspect, Unchenna, attempted a desperate escape upon sighting the police operatives. In a bid to evade the authorities, the suspect jumped into the Ogbese River located in the Akure North Local Government Area. Despite the hazardous conditions, members of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit engaged in a direct pursuit into the water. Police officials stated that the operatives demonstrated high levels of professionalism and resilience, successfully apprehending Unchenna within the river and bringing him safely back to the shore to face questioning.

Intelligence Driven Policing and Tactical Deployment

The successful interception of the vehicle was the result of a coordinated effort involving intelligence gathering and technology driven strategies. On April 30, the command received specific data indicating that a vehicle reported stolen in Lagos was moving toward the Abuja axis. This information allowed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to deploy swiftly and set up an interception point at Ogbese. Command spokesperson Jimoh emphasized that the use of modern tracking and intelligence sharing between state commands was instrumental in identifying the vehicle before it could reach its final destination in the north.