The Oyo State Government’s Special Task Force has dismantled an illegal black market diesel operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, resulting in the arrest of 16 suspects allegedly involved in the sale of adulterated fuel.
The operation took place near the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, close to the Guru Maharaj Ji village axis, where enforcement officers uncovered four industrial drums and 17 jerrycans filled with diesel, some containing suspicious substances.
Leading the task force was retired Commissioner of Police and Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Sunday Odukoya, who described the raid as part of a wider effort to sanitize the state’s highways and eliminate criminal enterprises disguised as roadside businesses.
“We’ve issued repeated warnings. We’ve been patient. Now, we’re acting,” Odukoya said during a press briefing at the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) office in Agodi.
“This isn’t just about diesel. It’s about reclaiming our roads from individuals who use illegal trade as a cover for criminal activities.”
This bust is one of several recent clampdowns by the task force targeting illegal stalls, shanties, and suspected crime hubs that have emerged along major roads in the state.
Of the 16 individuals arrested, 15 were men and one was a woman. Among them was Mustapha Bolaji, who confessed to operating a black market diesel business for over six years.
“We buy from trailer drivers and resell to individuals and companies,” Bolaji explained. “We weren’t mixing anything. Yes, we were warned, but it wasn’t official. That’s why this came as a surprise.”
The state government, however, dismissed the claims and confirmed that all suspects will be prosecuted through the Task Force Enforcement Mobile Court. Authorities say the prosecution will serve as a deterrent to others engaged in similar illegal activities.
“The days of impunity are over,” Odukoya warned. “We are coming, and we won’t stop until our roads are safe, orderly, and free from illegalities.”
The government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing law and order while encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities across the state’s road network.
