By Dayo Johnson

“WE are nine members of a gang and we divided ourselves into three groups. The first three are specialists in operating earth- moving equipment, another three specialise in dismantling the equipment while the last three look out for buyers across the eastern part of the country.”

This was the confession of one of the nine-man syndicate that was smashed by detectives of the Ondo State Police Command.

Two members of the syndicate, a commercial driver, Victor Ologun and an Okada rider, Innocent lkechukwu were arrested in Asaba, Delta State after robbing a gas plant in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

•Suspected members of the nine-man syndicate who specialise in stealing generating sets in Ondo State.

They reportedly carted away N500,000 from the safe and went away with a giant Micano generating set worth N2.5m.

Police reports had it that the syndicate, which specialises in stealing giant generating sets, had earlier stolen two of such generators belonging to two telecommunications companies, GLO and MTN, in different parts of the state.

Giving a blow by blow account of how they go about the operations, Victor Ologun, a commercial driver said: “We first do a study of the location and those living around where the generating set is installed.

“After that, we lodge into a nearby hotel for a couple of days before carrying out the operation, which is done at about 2am.

Ologun explained that “because we are not conversant with the environment, we secured the services of a commercial motorcyclist who serves as our guide.

“When we arrive the scene of operations, we usually demobilise the security guards stationed at the telecom mast by tying them up with ropes and stuffing their mouths with clothes.

“We will then telephone our members to bring the earth-moving equipment and the J5 to convey the generating sets to the eastern part of the country.”

Three generators stolen in 3 months

Vanguard gathered that three generating sets valued at over N6 million have been stolen by the syndicate within the last three months and buyers pay N80, 000 each for the N2.5m generating sets.

Police report said the Okada rider, Innocent lkechukwu, confessed to leading the suspects to where the generating sets are located in Akure metropolis.

Also, the driver, Victor disclosed that they hire lorries which assist in lifting the generating sets into a J5 bus before moving them to the eastern part of the country where they are sold.

It was learned that the suspects were arrested following the tracking of the stolen telephone of one of the guards tied by them during the operations.

Findings revealed that after the last operation, one of the suspects (lkechukwu) who was said to be greedy, stole the telephone of one of the security guards working for the telecommunication company.