In a swift operation, the Ogun State Police Command announced the arrest of a suspected transformer vandal, Adewole Adekunle, aged 28, along with the recovery of a vandalized Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company transformer. This valuable piece of infrastructure belonged to the Showo community in the Kobape area, situated along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
The arrest came following a tip-off from vigilant villagers, who promptly alerted the police about the suspicious activities of vandals in their community at approximately 4:30 a.m. on a Friday morning.
According to the statement released by the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, the dynamic response to the distress call was led by the DPO of Owode Egba Police Division in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, CSP Popoola Olasunkanmi. The operation resulted in the apprehension of Adewole Adekunle, who hails from No. 28, Eleko, Ajah, Lagos.
While the arrest was successful, other members of the gang managed to escape into the nearby bushes, abandoning a Volkswagen bus with registration number EKY 202 YG, Lagos State, along with its pertinent documents. An array of tools used for vandalism, including an Itel phone, a digger, a chisel, 11 large spanners, 25 small bolts, a big pincher, assorted clothing items, and the extensively damaged transformer were recovered from the crime scene.
The police force is actively pursuing the remaining members of this notorious gang and is determined to bring them to justice through possible prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, has been briefed on the situation and has directed that the arrested suspect be charged to court as a strong deterrent to potential vandals. His directive underscores the warning to scavengers and criminals to desist from tampering with government properties, as they will face the full force of the law if caught.