In an unexpected turn of events, a man known only as Sope Modupe, aged 45, found himself in hot water on Monday after being apprehended for allegedly pilfering a motorbike in Ibadan, the bustling capital of Oyo State.
The startling incident unfolded at the hockey pitch amidst the fervent atmosphere of the ongoing athletics competition dubbed ‘Making of the Champions,’ generously sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN, at the prestigious Adamasingba Sports Complex in Ibadan.
According to an eyewitness, Abdulkareem Olanrewaju, Modupe, utilizing a master key, stealthily ignited the motorbike belonging to one Olawale Ajibua, a hockey athlete. Unbeknownst to the thief, the watchful eyes of the owner’s wife were upon him as he attempted to abscond from the Adamasingba Sports Complex. Sensing trouble, the vigilant woman promptly raised the alarm, enlisting the help of bystanders to apprehend the culprit.
Fortunately, the swift intervention of hockey coaches prevented the irate crowd from dispensing mob justice, and Modupe was promptly handed over to security personnel within the premises. He now finds himself confined to the confines of the Mokola Police station, awaiting further investigation.
When contacted, the General Manager of the State Sports Council, Tunde Ajibike, confirmed the incident, highlighting the collective effort of sports enthusiasts and passersby in apprehending the suspect. Ajibike further revealed that the matter had been reported to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, culminating in a visit to the Mokola Police station to liaise with the Divisional Police Officer, who assured them of due process.
Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, proved futile as his contact remained unreachable at the time of compiling this report.
