Ola Akinwunmi
The Osun State Police Command has arraigned three men in connection with the theft of two motorcycles in the Maboreje area of Ikirun, following a months-long investigation sparked by residents’ reports.
The suspects — identified as 40-year-old Idowu Ajala, his elder brother Maruf Ajala, 56, and a 28-year-old motorcycle mechanic, Ibrahim Idris — were brought before a magistrate court after police traced one of the stolen motorcycles to the Ajala brothers in early May.
According to a statement released on Friday by police spokesperson SP Abiodun Ojelabi, complaints were first lodged on December 23, 2023, and again on March 24, 2024, by residents who reported the theft of two TVS motorcycles, one blue with registration number KNR 759 UM, and the other tagged FNN 898 QE.
“On May 8, 2025, acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the CP’s monitoring unit apprehended Idowu and Maruf Ajala in possession of one of the missing motorcycles,” Ojelabi said.
The suspects claimed they had unknowingly bought the stolen motorcycle via Facebook from a seller named Ibrahim Idris. The transaction was allegedly made using the Facebook account of Idowu Ajala.
Further investigation led police to Idris, a native of Ibadan in Oyo State. He was arrested shortly after, and identified as the seller. Police confirmed that Idris works as a motorcycle mechanic and had no verifiable documentation for the motorcycle sold.
With the investigation concluded, all three men have now been charged in court for their roles in the theft. The Osun State Police Command reiterated its commitment to tackling vehicle theft and urged residents to be cautious when making online purchases, especially involving automobiles and motorcycles.
The case is expected to continue in the coming weeks as the court determines the culpability of each suspect.
