The Ogun State Police Command has announced the arrest of five suspects alleged to be involved in a string of burglaries, cable thefts, and transformer vandalism in Ijebu-Ode and surrounding areas.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Superintendent Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrests made by officers attached to the Igbeba Division. The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Emmanuel, also known as “Ozon,” Samuel Sunday Idoko, 39, Tolulope Ilesanmi, 21, Sanusi Daniel, 29, and 20-year-old Ogunkoya Victor, were apprehended for their roles in shop break-ins and theft of AMOR cable wires from local transformers.

According to the police, complaints had been mounting from victims who reported losses due to burglaries in electronic stores and incidents of vandalism over the past months. The situation escalated following multiple reports of stolen property and damaged transformers, leading to power outages in the area.

On October 4, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers from the Igbeba Police Station received intelligence that a member of the syndicate was spotted at the Ijebu Ilese Toll Gate. Acting swiftly, detectives arrested Emmanuel, who later confessed to being part of the burglary ring. His confession led to the arrest of the other four suspects, each linked to various thefts and break-ins.

The police further revealed that during a search of Idoko’s residence, officers discovered an array of burglary tools, including an iron cutter, drilling machine, hammer, and chisel. The suspects allegedly confessed to breaking into an electronics store at Bobadara Junction in February and stealing cable wires from transformers across Ijebu-Ode.

The suspects are currently in custody, undergoing interrogation. Police efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen items.

This crackdown comes as part of the police’s broader efforts to combat crime and ensure the safety of residents in Ogun State.