Ogun State Police have apprehended three individuals linked to a motorcycle theft ring operating in the Owode-Egba region of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed this during a call with Punch Online on Tuesday, stating that the arrests followed an incident involving an attack on a resident of Ijemo Kukoyi village on the Shiun-Owode Expressway.
According to reports, the victim, Rotimi Bajela, alerted the police that he was ambushed by the suspects. They fired at him, but he was unharmed, leading them to assault him with a machete instead.
Odutola explained, “On October 11, 2024, a vigilant local provided crucial information that helped police capture the suspects who attacked Rotimi Bajela.”
The report indicated that the 60-year-old Bajela was returning to Ijemo Kukoyi Village on his Boxer Bajaj motorcycle when three attackers emerged from the bushes. Armed with a gun and machete, they shot at him; however, when the gunshot missed, they struck him with the machete, stealing his motorcycle, cash, and an Itel mobile phone.
Bajela identified the suspects as Adegboyega Sarafa, Soliu Bankole, and Sogo Idris, known as Agbara. Using this information, police tracked down and arrested the trio, recovering a homemade gun and the machete used in the assault.
Odutola noted that, during a hospital visit, Bajela confirmed the identities of his attackers: Adegboyega Sarafa, 42; Soliu Bankole, 38; and Sogo Idris, 46.
All three suspects were arrested on October 14, 2024, and the weapons were seized. Odutola mentioned that further investigations are underway.