Police arrest four suspected telecom infrastructure vandals in Oyo, recover ₦8m solar equipment
Police arrest four suspected telecom infrastructure vandals in Oyo, recover ₦8m solar equipment. Credit: X | Oyo State Police Command
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The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspected telecommunications infrastructure vandals and recovered stolen solar equipment valued at about ₦8 million.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka and shared on X on Tuesday.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit arrested the suspects on June 20 during a routine stop-and-search operation at the Irepo area along the Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway.
The suspects were identified as Jimoh Mufutau, 35, of Mowe-Ibafo, Ogun State; Saheed Akanbi, 34, of Onipanu, Lagos State; Lateef Ibrahim, 37, of Igando, Lagos State; and Lukman Jimoh, 38, of Isheri/Berger, Lagos State.
The statement said, “On June 20, 2026, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation at Irepo area along the Oyo–Ogbomoso Expressway, intercepted and arrested four suspects found in possession of suspected stolen telecommunications power equipment.
“The suspects are: 1.Jimoh Mufutau (35 years), of Mowe-Ibafo Area, Ogun State;
2.Saheed Akanbi (34 years), of Onipanu Area, Lagos State;
3.Lateef Ibrahim (37 years), of Igando Area, Lagos State; and
4.Lukman Jimoh (38 years), of Isheri/Berger Area, Lagos State.”
The police said the suspects were intercepted while conveying four hybrid solar batteries suspected to have been stolen in an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number EPE 992 KH.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the batteries, valued at approximately ₦8 million, were allegedly stolen from a telecommunications facility in Offa, Kwara State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were conveying four hybrid solar batteries valued at approximately Eight Million Naira (₦8,000,000) in an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number EPE 992 KH,” the statement said.
The statement added that the suspects confessed during interrogation to stealing the equipment before attempting to transport it to an undisclosed destination.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to stealing the items from a telecommunications facility in Offa, Kwara State, before attempting to transport them to an undisclosed destination.
“The recovered items and the vehicle used in conveying them have been taken into police custody as exhibits, while further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ criminal activities and identify other members of the syndicate,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abimbola Olugbenga, commended the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in the state.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, describing community partnership as vital in the fight against crime.
Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.
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