An individual known for stealing motorcycles, Bernard Shadrach, was recently captured by the Oye Divisional Police Headquarters in cooperation with residents of Trinity Hostel along Egbe Road, Oye-Ekiti. The arrest took place when the suspect tried to snatch a motorcycle from a commercial rider.
DSP Abutu Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, reported that the accused, along with an accomplice, had a history of stealing motorcycles from unsuspecting riders in Oye-Ekiti. Their criminal activities came to a halt on April 25, 2024, when they posed as passengers heading to Trinity Hostel along Egbe Road, Oye-Ekiti.
After boarding the motorcycle, the suspect and his partner forcibly instructed the rider to stop, proceeding to attack him with dry, ground pepper and a hammer. Fortunately, with the help of bystanders, the motorcyclist managed to subdue one of the assailants while the other managed to escape.
During the investigation, two commercial motorcycle operators, who had previously reported stolen motorcycles to the Police Headquarters in Oye Ekiti, identified the suspect as one of the culprits involved in the thefts on April 2 and 22, respectively.
The apprehended suspect confessed to the crimes and implicated his absconded partner as the mastermind behind their motorcycle snatching operation. He revealed that they had relocated from Benin City, Edo State, and commenced their illegal activities in November 2023.