The newly inaugurated 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State has been vandalized by thieves barely a month after it was commissioned.
The hospital which was commissioned on Saturday, February 1, 2023 by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was invaded by thieves who carted away electronic equipment worth millions of naira.
State commandant of the Security Network, otherwise called the Amotekun Corps, David Akinremi, who confirmed the incident, said they’ve arrested three suspects in connection with the crime.
The suspects stole six 43-inch Hisense T.V. sets, two 65-inch Bruhm T.V sets, three Bruhm fridges, one Midea refrigerator, and three Lontor rechargeable standing fans, all valued at N3 million.
The prime suspect, one Ogunjembola Kehinde who led his gang to burgle the hospital, was arrested following a complaint of burglary from one of his victims, Kehinde Banjoko.
Banjoko had filed a complaint of thieves breaking into her apartment while she was away in Lagos and steaking several household items such as generating sets, gas cylinder, standing fan, mattresses and rug, among others, valued at about N500,000.
Akinremi said;
“Based on actionable intelligence, the prime suspect was arrested, and upon interrogation, he admitted that he committed the alleged crime with one other now at large. His admission led to the recovery of all the items stolen from one Lawal Aliu, who is the criminal receiver.
“While investigation into the original complaint was still ongoing, intelligence received further revealed that the same principal suspect in this case, Ogunjembola Kehinde and his criminal gang was responsible for breaking and stealing of some electronic equipment at the newly inaugurated 100 bed Mother and Child Hospital, Iperu.
“When he (suspect) was confronted with this, he also admitted he committed the offence with his co-accomplice in the original case of burglary and stealing reported by Banjoko Kehinde.
“So far, three suspects have been arrested in connection with this case while efforts are ongoing aimed at apprehending other criminal receivers mentioned by the suspects with a view to recovering items allegedly sold to them.”