A syndicate that specialises in stealing livestock in
Akure, Ondo State, has been smashed by the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps.
According to the corps, the gang usually attacked areas
where there are large flock of sheep and goats and steal them at midnight.
While parading two members of the syndicate on Thursday,
the Commandant, Mr. Andrew Ugwumba, said the suspects, Agagu Seun and Adedipe
Gbenga, used motorcycles to get away as soon as they snatched the animals.
He said residents had been complaining that all their
domestic animals had been stolen at the point when they were just maturing and
ready to be sold.
But on October 14, the suspects were arrested by civil
defence men during a failed attempt to snatch a goat.
Seun, who is a painter, said he took to stealing because he
was not making enough money from his job.
He, however, denied being a serial livestock thief, saying
it was his first outing.
But his partner, Adedipe, who claimed to be an okada rider,
said he was not aware that the goat was stolen, as his friend told him he was
going to help him pick up a goat he had bought.
Asked if he thought it wise to help someone pick a goat at
3am, without raising suspicion of being a thief, he replied, “I did not know
that he stole the goat, I only waited on the road with my bike.”
The command also paraded a suspected fraudster, Segun
Olorunwemimo, who allegedly collected the sum of N2m from one Mr. Adeloye
Jayeola on the pretext of helping him to purchase a 911Mercedes Benz tipper
from Cotonou.
However, Segun denied the allegation, saying it was a deal
that had yet to be concluded as deposits had been made for the truck, and would
have been delivered if the balance was paid.
Ugwumba said the suspects would be charged to court at the
close of investigations.
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