Police arrest three over motorcycle theft, recover seven bikes in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested three suspects over alleged motorcycle theft and recovered seven suspected stolen motorcycles in separate operations across the state.

The suspects are Mustapha Lekan, 38, from Osun State, who was arrested for allegedly stealing motorcycles, and Blessing Adebiyi and Ogunbayo Adebiyi, who were apprehended for allegedly receiving stolen motorcycles.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

He said the suspects were arrested in Ado Ekiti, Ido Ekiti and Ilogbo Ekiti on Saturday.

Giving details of the operation, Abutu said, “On Saturday, 18th July, 2026, at about 2 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on credible intelligence, received information that a suspect had stolen a red Bajaj motorcycle around the Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School area, Ado-Ekiti, and was fleeing towards the Ilawe Road axis.

“The VCRU patrol team, who were on stop-and-search duty along Ilawe Road, immediately swung into action. The operatives sighted the stolen motorcycle, engaged the suspect in a hot pursuit, and successfully apprehended him.

“The suspect was identified as Mustapha Lekan, a 38-year-old from Osun State. The stolen motorcycle was recovered from him.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to stealing two motorcycles within Ado-Ekiti. Further investigation led detectives to Ilogbo Ekiti and Ido Ekiti, where two suspected receivers of stolen motorcycles, identified as Adebiyi Blessing and Ogunbayo Adebiyi, were arrested.

“Consequently, the operatives recovered six additional motorcycles suspected to have been stolen. Investigation is ongoing to identify the rightful owners of the recovered motorcycles and apprehend other members of the criminal network.”

According to the police spokesman, the suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Abutu said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the operatives for their swift response, professionalism and commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

He added, “The CP reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain intelligence-led policing and rid Ekiti State of criminal elements. The CP is urging members of the public to continue to support the police with timely and credible information that will aid the fight against crime and criminality in the state.

“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to protecting lives and property and warns all criminal elements to desist from unlawful activities or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.”