Oyo Police Recover 40 Bags of Concealed Explosives, Arrest Driver in Saki Intelligence-Led Operation

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have recovered 40 bags of concealed explosives and arrested a truck driver during an intelligence-led operation at the Sango area of Saki, in the northern part of the state.

The interception occurred at approximately 11:10 p.m. on January 24, 2026, when a DAF truck with registration number OGUN SGM 765 XB, driven by 30-year-old Mutairu Yusuf of Atiru Compound, Chikanda, Kwara State, was flagged down and searched. Security sources confirmed that the explosives were carefully hidden within the vehicle. The driver stated that the consignment had been loaded in Ibadan and was destined for delivery to Chikanda in Kwara State.

Joint Investigation Underway

A joint investigation involving the State Monitoring Unit and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team has been launched to determine the origin of the explosives, the intended recipient, and the purpose for which they were being transported. Preliminary assessments are underway to establish whether the materials were intended for criminal use, industrial purposes, or illegal mining activities common in parts of the North West and North Central regions.

Security Context in Oyo North

Saki West and Saki East Local Government Areas, located near the Oyo-Kwara border, have in recent years become transit corridors for criminal activity, including arms trafficking, smuggling of contraband, and movement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) linked to banditry and insurgency spillover from neighbouring states. Dense forest belts and porous borders facilitate such movements, making intelligence-led checkpoints and joint operations critical.

The recovery underscores ongoing efforts by the Oyo State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police Adebola Hamzat, to disrupt logistics networks supplying criminal elements. Similar operations in 2025 recovered arms caches, ammunition, and explosives in border communities, often linked to cattle rustling syndicates and non-state armed groups operating between Oyo, Kwara, Niger, and Zamfara.

Public Safety and Ongoing Probe

Police authorities have appealed to residents and motorists to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, particularly around border areas and forest routes. The arrested driver is in custody and assisting investigators. No injuries or casualties were reported during the interception. Forensic analysis of the materials and interrogation of the suspect are said to be ongoing.