Oyo police arrest 21-year-old suspected cable vandal, recover ₦2.69m cables

By Adebola Muili

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old man, Ayomide Ojo, over the alleged vandalism and theft of house-wiring cables valued at about ₦2.69 million in Ogbomoso.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Ayanlade said Ojo was arrested at about 5:30 a.m. on September 21 by operatives of the Monitoring Unit attached to the Ogbomoso Base during an anti-crime patrol along Bosunla Street, Ogbomoso.

According to him, the operatives accosted the suspect while he was carrying a sack filled with house-wiring cables suspected to have been removed from a building under construction within Ogbomoso Township.

The PPRO said preliminary interrogation led to the suspect’s confession that he allegedly vandalised the cables in company with one Warris, who is currently at large.

He said the suspect further disclosed that the cables were removed from an uncompleted building opposite Akala House in Ogbomoso.

Following the disclosure, police operatives visited the alleged scene of the crime and contacted the owner of the property, identified as Salaudeen Rasaq.

Ayanlade said Rasaq, upon assessing the damage, estimated the value of the cables vandalised and removed from his building at ₦2,692,000.

The police spokesman said investigation into the case was ongoing, adding that efforts were being intensified to apprehend Warris and identify other persons allegedly involved in the criminal chain, particularly those who receive and dispose of vandalised cables.

The command also urged members of the public to provide the police with actionable information on the activities of cable vandals, thieves and suspected receivers.

For emergencies, members of the public can contact the Oyo State Call Response Centre on 615 or the Oyo State Police Command Control Room on 08081768614 and 07055495413.