A two-week intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, So-Safe Corps, has led to the arrest of a 25-year-old man, Oluwatobi Sangokeye, over the alleged theft of a commercial tricycle in Lagos State.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday, along the Atan/Owode Road in Ogun State, while allegedly in possession of the stolen tricycle.
The State Commander of the Corps, Cmdr. (Dr.) Soji Ganzallo, disclosed the development in a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Adegunwa Adegbuyi.
According to the statement, the operation began after the alleged victim, identified as 44-year-old Babatunde, a resident of Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos State, reported the disappearance of his commercial tricycle to a So-Safe Corps officer.
The victim reportedly told the officer that the suspect had taken away his tricycle, bearing Edo number plate AKA-108VC and chassis number MD6M14PA9L4B00871, before fleeing from Lagos into Ogun State.
Following the complaint, the Divisional Officer of the Satellite Divisional Headquarters under the Ado-Odo Igbesa Area Command, SC Elegbede, briefed the Area Commander, ACC Oluti Kehinde.
Oluti subsequently ordered a tracking operation to locate the suspect and recover the vehicle.
The Corps said its operatives conducted surveillance and tracking for 14 days before locating Sangokeye on the Atan/Owode axis, where he was arrested with the allegedly stolen tricycle.
During preliminary interrogation, the statement said, the complainant and suspect confirmed that the tricycle had initially been given to Sangokeye under a hire-purchase arrangement.
The suspect was also said to have confessed to stealing the tricycle from the Cele-Ijesha/Mile 2 axis of Lagos State in August before fleeing to Ogun.
Ganzallo commended the operatives involved in the operation for their persistence, professionalism and tactical efficiency.
The suspect and the recovered tricycle have since been handed over to the Ado-Odo Police Station for further interrogation and investigation.
The So-Safe Corps reiterated its commitment to tackling criminal activities across Ogun State, warning that criminals fleeing from other states would not find the state a safe haven.
