Three persons have been arrested in connection with the theft of a commercial bus at the Somolu area of Lagos State.

The suspects, Gbenga Aikomu, Bayo Adegoke and Tajudeen Jaiyeola, who are being detained at the Alade Police Division, Lagos, were said to have been apprehended at the Ogijo area of Ogun State.

The bus, a Volkswagen Van wagon with number plate, XV 142 AKD, was allegedly stolen from its owner, Mustapha Olalekan, on July 7 2013. The bus was said to have been parked at Adebiyi Street, Somolu, where Olalekan lived.

Police sources told PUNCH Metro, that Olalekan woke up the following morning to discover that the bus had been stolen and subsequently reported the theft at the Alade Police Division.

One of the sources said, “Three weeks after the theft, Olalekan was told by a friend who lives at Ogijo, Ogun State that he sighted Olalekan’s bus in the area.

“The theft of commercial buses is a daily occurrence at Mushin and Somolu. Most times, the stolen vehicles are traced to some developing areas in Ogun State like Ogijo.”

Olalekan was said to have mobilised his friends, who lived in the Ogijo area, to monitor the vehicle. However, the bus was not sighted again until September 7 when it was seen at the Powerline area in Ogun State with Aikomu.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the Ogijo Police Division was alerted. Policemen at the station were said to have trailed the driver.

The source said, “When Aikomu noticed he was being trailed, he tried to speed off. He was chased by motorcycles riders until he was finally caught at the Transformer area, Ogijo.

“Aikomu’s cooperation with the police led to the arrest of 39-year-old Adegoke and 59-year-old Jaiyeola. Both men denied stealing the vehicle, claiming to have bought its parts from one Emma who is on the run. However, Jaiyeola was arrested with a pair of sandals which Olalekan had earlier bought but forgotten in the vehicle before it was stolen. The suspects were later transferred to the Alade Police Division where the case was originally reported.”

When contacted on the telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngosi Braide, said, “Yes, three suspects were arrested at Ogijo by police operatives from Alade Division in connection with a stolen commercial bus.

“The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, tomorrow (Thursday) as investigation continues.”