A 22-year-old woman identified as Azeez Khadijat has been arrested for the alleged theft and repainting of a Suzuki mini bus popularly known as “Korope”in Omu-Ijebu, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun state.

The suspect, aged 22, was arrested at about 4pm on Sunday.

Spokesperson of the Ogun State police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday, said the arrest was made following a credible intelligence.

abaseyi stated that the suspect alongside three other men who are currently at large were sighted in a bush along Ikhasi Road, Kajola via Omu, illegally repainting the bus without a registration number.

He noted that the vehicle was suspected to be originally yellow in colour before being repainted in white and blue colours in an attempt to alter its identity.

He said, “Detectives of the Omu-Ijebu Divisional Headquarters, Ogun State Police Command, acting on credible intelligence, have foiled a case of suspected vehicle theft and illegal repainting of a Suzuki mini bus in a bush at Omu-Ijebu, leading to the arrest of one female suspect, Azeez Khadijat ‘F’, aged 22.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, detectives mobilised to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in different directions. However, the said Azeez Khadijat ‘F’ was arrested inside the abandoned vehicle.

“A search of the scene led to the recovery of three handsets, one power bank, one paint can, one sandpaper, and one Type-C charging cord, all suspected to belong to the fleeing suspects.”

According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations revealed that the mini bus was allegedly used to perpetrate criminal activities in Lagos State, prompting the suspects to repaint the vehicle in a bid to conceal its identity and evade detection.

He stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, the State commissioner of police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the swift response and professionalism of the operatives and assured residents that all fleeing accomplices will be brought to justice.