Operatives of the Anti-Robbery Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have recovered an unregistered Toyota Matrix allegedly stolen during an armed robbery at De-Ultimate Hotel along the Sokoto/Badagry Road, Atan Ota.

The vehicle, which police say was taken at gunpoint from a hotel guest identified as Joseph Bankole, was traced and recovered in Lagos after weeks of investigation. Two car dealers have been arrested on suspicion of receiving and attempting to dispose of the stolen car.

Spokesperson for the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the robbers invaded the hotel in the dead of night, attacking Bankole and staff members and dispossessing them of valuables, including the Toyota Matrix, mobile phones and other personal items.

According to the police, the case was immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, where the Anti-Robbery Unit, led by SP Gbenga Ayodele, took over. Investigators reportedly followed leads that suggested the stolen vehicle had been moved out of Ogun and into neighbouring Lagos, a common route for stolen cars destined for resale.

Through surveillance and intelligence gathering, officers tracked the Toyota Matrix to a location in Lagos, where it was recovered. The two arrested car dealers are alleged to have been involved in the handling of the vehicle, either as buyers or intermediaries in a suspected criminal network dealing in stolen automobiles.

Babaseyi said the arrests are part of a broader effort to dismantle syndicates that specialise in robbing residents and funnelling stolen vehicles into informal car markets across the region. The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to assist investigators in identifying other members of the gang, including the armed robbers who carried out the hotel attack.

The police spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing and that more arrests are anticipated as detectives trace the movement of the vehicle and examine records from car lots and dealers believed to be linked to the case.

The command urged hotel operators and residents in Ogun and neighbouring states to strengthen security measures and promptly report suspicious activities, assuring the public that efforts are being intensified to curb armed robbery and car theft in the area.