The police command in Oyo State said it launched a crackdown and arrested two suspects over diesel theft worth N12 million at Kopek Construction Company site in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a statement on Friday by the command’s spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka, the police said its operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Unit, acting on credible intelligence, foiled the theft incident.

“The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a major operational success in its ongoing efforts to combat theft and protect public and private property within the state,” the statement said.

The police spokesman stated that two suspects, Yusuf Mutiyat (43) and Ogunniyan Rasheed (64) were caught at the construction company funneling off a liquid substance suspected to be diesel from a mixer truck.

Mr Olayinka stated, “Acting on credible intelligence and with the timely cooperation of members of the public, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit intercepted Yusuf Mutiyat (F), 43 years old, and Ogunniyan Rasheed (M), 64 years old, at Kopek Construction Company, Ibadan, where they were engaged in siphoning liquid substances suspected to be diesel from a mixer truck.”

The police spokesman noted that searches by police operatives led to the recovery of “24 barrels of 240 litres of liquid suspected to be diesel (approximately 10,000 litres), with an estimated value of ₦12,000,000.”

“The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue to determine the full extent of the theft and to identify any other individuals involved,” he said.

Commending the professionalism and dedication exhibited by police operatives involved in the operation, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, appreciated the vigilance and timely intelligence provided by members of the public.