BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
For allegedly burgling about 10 shops in Agunbelewo area of Osogbo, Osun State capital, and carting away some items valued at N3 million, the state Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Damilola Oladele.
The suspect, in an interview with The Point, said he ventured into stealing after he sustained an injury while playing football and couldn’t work again.
He said none of his family members was ready to assist him to survive, claiming that he is an orphan.
Oladele said he stole a generator and gas cylinder belonging to his girlfriend, adding that his neighbour’s generating set was also stolen by him.
Asked how he stole the items, Oladele said he was living in the same house with his girlfriend but decided to sell the items when she travelled.
He said, “I don’t have parents again and my family members are not helping out. After my injury, I became idle and I started stealing. Once I stole anything, I would sell it immediately. The generators are for my girlfriend and neighbour. My neighbour travelled and left his generator outside, that was how I was able to steal it.
“My girlfriend went home for her mother’s burial and I didn’t have much on me. That was why I took the generator and sold it for N30,000. I also sold her gas cylinder.”
According to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Isyaku Mohammed, men of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service intercepted the suspect while on surveillance patrol at Oke-Fia roundabout, Osogbo,last month.
Mohammed said the suspect was in possession of one big bag containing some food items, cooking utensils and other items suspected to be stolen.
The CP stated, “When he was questioned about the items, he could not give any satisfactory proof of ownership. Hence the suspect was brought to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet investigation.
“Having received the report, the detectives swung into action and in the course of investigations, it was discovered that the suspect had on different dates burgled about 10 shops in the Agunbelewo area of Osogbo and carted away some items valued at N3 million.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspect who is living in the area solely carried out the crime in the shops and kept the items in his house. The suspect confessed to the crime and he will be charged to court on the completion of the investigation.”
