Police Nab Six Suspected Spare Parts Thieves

The Osun Police Command last Wednesday said it had arrested six suspected thieves who stole vehicle spare parts at a worship centre that was set ablaze in Osogbo on December 11.

The Osun Police Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Solomon, made the disclosure in Osogbo while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command.

Our correspondent recalls that unidentified arsonists set the worship centre ablaze at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, during the protests which followed the removal of the subsidy on petrol.

The commissioner said while the search for the arsonists who burnt the worship centre was on, the police arrested those who took advantage of the incident to steal.

He said the suspects dismantled the vandalised vehicles in order to cannibalise the body parts and sell them to vehicle parts dealers.

The commissioner said one of the suspects was arrested on his way to Sabo area of the metropolis while in possession of some stolen scraps.

“His arrest led to the arrest of five other suspects who have all made confessional statements while some of the vehicle parts have been recovered from them,” he said.

Solomon said the suspects might be part of the irate protesters who burnt the worship centre, adding that investigation was still on.

Meanwhile, Solomon has said that the police would not arrest former Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola whose vehicle allegedly knocked down two persons on December 10.

Our correspondent recalls that Oyinlola’s convoy made its way through the busy Olaiya junction in Osogbo where anti-subsidy removal protesters were holding a rally.

One of the vehicles reportedly hit two of the protesters and they were taken to the Government House clinic for medical attention while the driver escaped.

But the commissioner argued that besides the fact that Oyinlola needed to protect himself from mob action,  the former governor did not actually drive the vehicle which hit the victims.

Although Solomon threatened to arrest the driver of the vehicle, he told newsmen that it was illegal for protesters to barricade roads in the first place.