Police arrest suspected serial burglar in Oyo, recover N16.2m stolen items - Punch Newspapers

Police arrest suspected serial burglar in Oyo, recover N16.2m stolen items. Credit: X | OyoPoliceNG

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected serial burglar, Nasiru Abiodun, over alleged burglaries at four residential apartments in Ibadan, with stolen items valued at N16.22m recovered. The suspect was arrested on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at about 9:45 am at a residential apartment in the Ejiooku/Iyana Offa area of the state capital. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrest followed a report by residents of Oyewole Zone 2, Ile-Igbon, which prompted operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to act. According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended with a sack containing house cables and other valuables estimated at N3m. “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting to having burgled four different residential apartments within the area, carting away house cables, mobile phones, motorcycle batteries and other household valuables,” the statement said.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources The police put the total value of items stolen during the incidents at N16.22m, adding that some of the property had been recovered from the suspect. The command said operatives subsequently visited the affected residences to establish the circumstances surrounding the burglaries and advance the investigation. It added that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining stolen items and apprehend those suspected of receiving the stolen property. Police kill robbery suspect in Ogun, recover two vehicles 2027: Oyo APM expands campaign committees Oluyole Warriors host Ochendo Boys in Ibadan The police urged residents of Ejiooku, Iyana Offa, Ile-Igbon and neighbouring communities whose homes had been burgled recently to report the incidents to the nearest police station or the Maku Base of the Violent Crime Response Unit. The command said information from affected residents would assist the ongoing investigation and facilitate the recovery of additional stolen property. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime through intelligence-led operations and public cooperation. He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to the police to help prevent and detect criminal activities. Recall that the command arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered a locally made pistol, a live cartridge and a motorcycle following a robbery incident around Sumal Junction Roundabout in Ibadan in October. The suspects, identified as Sunday Obasola, 29; Kayode Bamikole, 28; and Durodoye Ayobami, 23, were arrested on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The command had said the arrests followed a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer of Oluyole Division, prompting the deployment of a patrol team to the scene, where officers confronted the suspects and arrested three of them. Hannah Johnson Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.

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