Police nab five teenage suspects over market shop break-ins, theft in Ogun
Five teenagers have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for their alleged involvement in a series of shop break-ins in the Ado-Odo area.
The suspects, aged between 14 and 16, were apprehended during separate operations. In a statement issued on Saturday by ASP Oluborode Opeyemi, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, it was revealed that two of the arrested teenagers confessed to participating in multiple burglaries in the area.
The first incident occurred early Wednesday morning, around 3:30 a.m., when a watchman alerted authorities after noticing suspicious activity inside a market stall. Community members responded by notifying patrol teams, who arrived on the scene and apprehended two suspects inside the shop.
According to Opeyemi, 15-year-old Lateef Khalid and 16-year-old Kareem Jamal were found in possession of stolen food items and other goods. During questioning, they admitted to the crime and subsequently led police to their accomplice, 14-year-old Sofiu Alabi, who reportedly provided the keys used to access the shop. All three have since been charged in court.
In a related case, two additional teenagers, Taofik Abioro, 16, and Ogundele Monday, 15, were arrested on Friday by operatives of the So-Safe Corps and subsequently handed over to police detectives. During initial questioning, both suspects confessed to their participation in several shop burglaries in Ado-Odo. A search of their residences yielded more stolen property, and efforts are underway to apprehend another suspected accomplice.
Opeyemi conveyed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni’s, commendation for the officers’ swift response, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among community stakeholders in disrupting criminal activities. He called on parents, guardians, and community leaders to closely supervise youth to deter involvement in crime and urged business owners to enhance security measures and report any suspicious behavior promptly.
