A suspected member of a notorious robbery gang that had been terrorising students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, who live off campus has been arrested.

Recovered from the suspect, identified as Onyebuchi Chika, were a sewing machine, some cooking gas and mattresses suspected to have been stolen from the students apartments. Chika allegedly broke into the students’ apartments around Awa Ijebu and its environs at the weekend, where he succeeded in carting away some property of those who had travelled for Christmas. He reportedly came back  to continue with his criminal act when luck ran on him after a male student, who was returning from an outing, raised alarm.


A student, Lola Gbemiga, who explained how the suspect was arrested, said: “He attempted to run but some residents chased him and held him until the arrival of policemen from Awa Ijebu Division, who later took him away.

“Burglars have been disturbing us in this axis and we hope this arrest will send a signal to others.”

During interrogation, Chika admitted to have  burgled several apartments in the area, adding that most of the apartments were those of female students. According to him, “I have burgled several students’ apartments in the area. I usually operate when they are not at home, particularly during holidays. I sell the loots and spend the money on food.”

He added that he decided to operate on New Year eve so as to use the proceeds from the loots to celebrate.

Spokesman for Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the arrest, adding that some house-breaking implements were also recovered from the suspect.