Caught in the act, the Ekiti State Police Command has taken into custody Babatunde Olaoluwa, a notorious culprit who has a penchant for lifting phones from places of worship.
The arrest stemmed from his brazen act of snatching seven mobile devices during a congregation at Christ Apostolic Church, Ayegbaju-Ekiti.
According to a statement issued by DSP Sunday Abutu, the Command’s public relations officer, the narrative unfolds as follows:
Under the cloak of piety, Babatunde Olaoluwa infiltrated the church, posing as a faithful worshipper. Seizing the opportunity amidst the fervor of worship, he made away with seven phones without detection.
Interrogation of the suspect dredged up a pattern in his modus operandi. Olaoluwa admitted to frequenting churches in Oye and Ayegbaju-Ekiti for phone theft. He confessed to a string of similar crimes at the Redeemed Christian Church of God and New Reality Christian Center in Oye-Ekiti.
Subsequent investigations unveiled a sinister network behind the scenes. Olaoluwa would dispatch the stolen phones through a motor park to his accomplice in Lagos, who would then manage the sales and funnel the profits back to him via online transfers.
The recovery operation yielded the seven phones pilfered from Christ Apostolic Church, Ayegbaju-Ekiti. Victims of Olaoluwa’s escapades made a beeline for the station, positively identifying the suspect and reclaiming their lost possessions.
Legal proceedings are on the horizon as the suspect is poised for arraignment once the investigation reaches its conclusion.