Police officers in Osun state have apprehended a reputed serial phone thief, Saheed Abioye alias Anini.
The suspect, who was apprehended by members of the Osun State Police Command’s Anti-Cultism Squad, claimed that he had gone to an Osun state church in the Alekuwudo neighborhood on the day of his arrest with the intention of robbing the worshipers’ phones during their vigil service but had instead fallen asleep.
“I got to the church around 10.45 pm and sat at the back, waiting for the opportunity to steal mobile phones of people who might want to charge at the back of the church. Unfortunately, I was unable to steal anything that fateful day because I slept off as soon as the vigil started and I did not wake up until around 3am. By the time I woke up, the vigil had ended and people were already going home, so I left the church premises. I was unable to steal anything.
When I got to the Alekuwodo area, before Akindeko Market, I saw a police patrol vehicle and some anti-cultism operatives from Dugbe (divisional headquarters, Osogbo). They stopped me and asked what I had on me and I replied that I had my purse and ID card. They searched me and found no incriminating item.
They later took me back to the church to confirm if truly I was coming from there. When they asked the pastor, he said he did not see me in church, so they took me back to Dugbe Police Station. Later, my video was recorded and sent to other stations and some operatives, who had arrested me in the past, identified me as an expert in the theft of phones. I don’t steal cars, motorcycles or any other thing except phones.” he said
He admitted to the police that he had taken and sold more than 18 phones from various locations across the state.
According to the police command, he will be presented in court as soon as possible.
