Guests and staff of two hotels in Osogbo, capital of Osun State were recently thrown into shock and lamentation after a gang of armed robbers invaded the facilities and robbed them of their belongings.
The Police in the state revealed that the hoodlums broke into Adbate Hotel and Suites and Amoo Adewale’s Hotel, both in Osogbo and carted away batteries of Mikano generating sets of the hospitality industries, electrical gadgets, and phones belonging to staff and lodgers.
The men of the underworld were said to have broken into the hotels and many homes at the Government Reserved Area of Osogbo in wee hours and robbed residents of their household items, vehicles, phones and other valuables amounting to several millions of naira.
Eventually, the Police arrested two suspects for the alleged crimes while others escaped.
The two suspects, Adebayo Mustapha, aged 23 and 27-year-old Omoniyi Ridwan, alongside four others who allegedly received the stolen items were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo by the police.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, informed the court that Mustapha and Ridwan and others now at large, between the month of August 2023 and April 16, 2024, at about 3:00am at GRA, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, Osun State, committed burglary and stealing.
Kayode explained that the duo burgled and robbed six different homes and two hotels within the same area, dispossessing residents, guests and staff of the hotels of their property including vehicles, generator batteries, phones, household items among others.
Also docked were four men – Adeyemi Adewale, aged 26; Damian Ubiaru, 49; Kelvin Sunday, 18 and Halifa Sani, 20 – who allegedly received stolen items from the suspected robbers.
Some of the victims of the serial robberies included Iyalode Rabi Ladipo, Kolapo Adeyemi, Ayodele Stephen Kolade, Ayantayo Akeem, Bukola Ojo Esther, Omigbodun Oyegoke, Ojo Abayomi, Amoo Adebowale and Ademola Ogundiran.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 411, 390 and 427 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
However, the six defendants pleaded not guilty to the 22 count-charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary, stealing and unlawful reception of stolen items.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned for their bail application.