A suspected member of a burglary gang that specialised in breaking into residential buildings, when owners are away was stripped last Sunday at the Iyesi area of Ota, Ogun State.
It was learnt that the suspect and members of his gang had been terrorising residents of the area for sometime.
Residents told The Nation that no fewer than eight houses had been burgled in the last two weeks.
The suspect, Deji Oladeluyi was said to have broken into a house at Famous Estate, Iyana Iyesi, while the occupants of the building were away.
He was said to have broken into the apartment through one of the windows of the apartment after vandalising its burglar-proof iron.
He was however intercepted by vigilant neighbours while he was about taking away some valuable items from the building.
He was said to have fled after he was accosted by a resident while he was removing valuable items from the apartment.
The suspect allegedly scaled the fence into another compound and hid himself inside a soak away pit.
The suspect was found inside the soak away pit with a live snake.
He was removed from the soak away pit by angry mob while the snake was killed.
When The Nation visited the scene, the suspect was found naked and tied to a stake while he confessed.
The suspect was on the verge of being lynched but for the arrival of men of Obasanjo Farm Police Division, Ota.
A resident, identified simply as Omotunde said: “For about two weeks now, the suspect and his gang members have robbed over seven houses at Famous and Pacesetter Estates while occupants of the buildings were away. They usually carry out their robbery operation on Sundays while many of the residents are attending church service.
“Today, the suspect again broke into an apartment in this estate while the occupants had gone to church. He had succeeded in packing valuable items from the apartment after he vandalised the window’s burglary-proof iron bar when he was accosted by a resident who was returning home from church.
“He immediately abandoned his loot and scaled the fence into a building and hid himself in a soak away pit that has no water. What surprised us was that he was caught beside a live snake inside the pit. We just killed the snake and apprehended him at once.”
Before he was whisked away by the police, the suspect said: “My name is Deji Oladeloye, I live at Iyana Iyesi. I don’t know anyone in this community; I have only come here to rob people. I am an indigene of Ondo State. I don’t belong to any robbery gang but I carry out my operations alone.”
The suspected robber, according to an impeccable police source has been arraigned before an Ota Magistrate’s Court.
“The suspect was arraigned on Monday at Ota Magistrate’s Court and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Obasanjo Farm Division held a meeting with the leadership of the affected community and assured them of adequate security and police patrol of the area,” the source said.