The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspects over the alleged vandalisation and theft of electrical infrastructure at Eko-Ende Junction, Ikirun, in the state.

The suspects were arrested by police operatives attached to the Ikirun Division following credible intelligence received at about 6:00 a.m. on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola, on September 1, 2026, the suspects were allegedly caught cutting a high-tension powerline pole with a cutting machine powered by a generating set.

The Command said Ikirun and its environs had experienced incessant vandalisation and theft of cables and other electrical assets in recent months, resulting in prolonged power outages in the area.

The suspects were identified as Onabamiji Emmanuel, 55; Bolaji Odusanya, 51; Alimi Akeem, 36; Balogun Kehinde, 52; Oyewo Hammed, 31; and Oladosu Hammed, 22.

The police said Emmanuel, Odusanya and Akeem are staff members of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ikirun, while Balogun is an IBEDC security personnel. Oyewo and Oladosu were identified as welders.

Items recovered from the suspects included a cutting machine, a generating set and a welding machine, which the police said were allegedly being used to carry out the vandalisation.

The Command said preliminary findings suggested that the suspects could be linked to a syndicate allegedly responsible for the repeated vandalisation of electrical infrastructure in Ikirun and neighbouring communities.

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

The police said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Command warned individuals and groups involved in the vandalisation, destruction or theft of public infrastructure to desist from such acts, stressing that it would continue to deploy intelligence and operational resources to identify and apprehend offenders.

The police also appealed to members of the public to provide timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing and combating crime across the state.

CP Zungura assured residents that the Command remained committed to protecting critical public infrastructure and ensuring that individuals involved in acts capable of sabotaging essential public utilities are brought to justice.