The arrested suspects
Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a theft syndicate and recovered telecommunications power equipment valued at about ₦8 million during an operation along the Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway.
The suspects, identified as Jimoh Mufutau, 35, from Mowe-Ibafo in Ogun State; Saheed Akanbi, 34, from Onipanu, Lagos State; Lateef Ibrahim, 37, from Igando, Lagos State; and Lukman Jimoh, 38, from Isheri/Berger, Lagos State, were apprehended on June 20, 2026.
According to the police, operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Unit intercepted the suspects during a routine stop-and-search exercise at Irepo area on the Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were transporting four hybrid solar batteries allegedly stolen from a telecommunications facility in Offa, Kwara State.
The batteries, estimated to be worth approximately ₦8 million, were being conveyed in an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna vehicle bearing registration number EPE 992 KH when the suspects were stopped by the police.
Investigators said the suspects admitted during interrogation that the equipment had been stolen from the telecom facility before they attempted to move it to an undisclosed location.
The recovered batteries and the vehicle used for the operation have been taken into police custody as exhibits.
Police authorities disclosed that further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of the suspects’ activities and identify other members of the alleged criminal network.
Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, praised the officers involved in the operation for their vigilance and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring that criminal elements do not find refuge within the state.
The Commissioner also appealed to residents to remain security conscious and continue providing useful information to law enforcement agencies, noting that community cooperation remains essential in the fight against crime.
He assured that the Oyo State Police Command would continue to intensify efforts aimed at safeguarding lives, property and critical national assets while ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.
