The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended four persons for allegedly stealing a motorcycle worth N630, 000 in the Imeruro area of Atan-Ijebu, Ijebu-North-East Local Government Area, and electrical installations, including cables and solar panels, in the Warewa area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.
Newsmen exclusively gathered on Tuesday that the four suspects were nabbed following a separate complaint by the victims.
According to report, it was learnt on Tuesday that while Bamidele Ogunbowale, a 30-year-old man, was arrested at about 3:30 pm on Sunday in the Atan-Ijebu for allegedly stealing the motorcycle, Edet Esin, Comfort Esin, and Victor Edet were nabbed for breaking into a two-bedroom apartment in the Mokore to commit the crime on the same day.
The state command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed Ogunbowale’s arrest in a WhatsApp message, informing newsmen that the suspect had attempted to buy the motorcycle from the owner, Olakunle Olagoke, with a promise of installment payments.
However, after acquiring the motorcycle from Olagoke, the suspect allegedly severed all contact with the owner, according to information obtained by our correspondents from the police.
Newsmen further learnt that attempts by policemen to locate the suspect’s whereabouts had previously failed before he was apprehended by the men of Atan Divisional Police headquarters on Sunday.
Odutola said, “At about 3:30 pm, Olakunle Olagoke of the Bena Farm area reported that on May 22, 2022, he bought one unregistered Bajaj motorcycle with chassis number MD2A18AX9MWJ37379 and engine number DUXWMJ31685 and gave it to Bamidele Ogunbowale in installments at the rate of N630,000 to be paying N10000 weekly.
“Ever since he collected the motorcycle he took to his heel, all efforts to locate him proved abortive.
“On August 25, 2024, at 3:00 pm, he received information that Bamidele was sighted in the Imeruro area. The suspect was tracked and eventually arrested; he confessed to the alleged crime that he sold the motorcycle and ran away.”
Odutola noted the police had begun a thorough investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the trio of Esin, Esin, and Edet, Odutola said, allegedly broke into the two-bedroom flat owned by Olabosipo Olasehinde, stealing an HP laptop, a solar panel, conduit pipes, and all electrical wires used in wiring the house.
“The suspects were arrested after one Odegbile Idowu, of Mokore area, Ogun State, on Sunday, went to the station to report the crime. They had earlier been charged in court for allegedly vandalizing that same building.
“But they got released and conspired amongst themselves to steal the above-mentioned items, of yet to be estimated value. The suspects have confessed to their crime, and they will be charged to court after a thorough investigation.”
The court adjourned the case until October 10, 2024, for mention.
PUNCH
سورة طه (الآية ٢ – ٢٣)