Suspects Arrested For Hijacking Bundles Of Clothing Materials In Oyo

180 bundles of various textile materials valued at N25 million were allegedly stolen and diverted by seven individuals, according to the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command.

This was announced at a press conference held on Tuesday in Ibadan, the state's capital, by SP. Adewale Osifeso, the command's public relations officer.

There were a total of 23 suspects paraded for alleged crimes like kidnapping, defilement, armed robbery, hiring racketeering, and forging land documents.

According to Osifeso, the patrol team of the command apprehended the suspects connected to the diversion of the items on October 16 at around 3 p.m. while conducting an intelligence-based anti-crime patrol inside Ogbomoso Town.

He said that the team had obtained reliable information that the suspects had been seen in the vicinity of the Ogbomoso axis driving two vehicles loaded with what was believed to be stolen goods.

“Operatives attached to the Monitoring Unit immediately swung into action by tracking and eventually intercepted the syndicate in a convoy of a white Hiace Bus with Registration number AKD 360 YF.

“Another metallic silver coloured Toyota Matrix car with Registration number KWL 125 CF was intercepted along Ogbomosho/Ilorin Expressway,” he said.

Five members of the criminal group were detained, and 100 packages of various garment materials were retrieved from their two vehicles, according to Osifeso.

“The suspects have so far voluntarily confessed to having diverted the goods.

“Their confession further led to the arrest of two other suspected criminal receivers who had additional 80 bundles of the diverted clothing materials, all valued at about N25 million,” he said.

The Command also presented three evading suspect kidnappers in connection with the August 2 kidnapping of two children and staff members of Alhaji Ishaku Umaru of Komu, Oyo, and seized N6 million from him.

According to Osifeso, the same alleged kidnappers reportedly abducted two more men on August 27 while riding a motorcycle: Shuibu Musa, 38, and Musa Agwai, 37, at various locations between Komu Town and Abuja Leather.

He said that on October 3, a joint team of command operatives assaulted the suspects' hiding place and detained the trio in the Komu region of Oyo State.

A member of staff from University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was also put on display for allegedly scamming approximately 100 job seekers of N6.5 million while pretending to offer them positions in the hospital.

According to Osifeso, the state's police commissioner, Adebowale Williams, asked the populace to discard all unfavourable stories and perceptions of the police in favour of trust and a fresh outlook for the good of the state and all of Nigeria.

One motorcycle, a locally made pistol, 28 live rounds, two Toyota Camry automobiles, cellphones, 180 bundles of clothing, and N4.9 million in cash were among the exhibits seized from the accused.