Two men, Damilare Oladunjoye and Azeez Ibironke, have been sentenced to one year in prison each for stealing iron rods from a federal road construction site along the Ilesa-Ibadan Expressway in Osun State. The conviction was delivered by Magistrate Adedokun Ayeni of Magistrate Court II, Ilesa Division, following a trial that concluded on June 2, 2026. The men were found guilty on three counts of theft under Osun State laws, with their sentences ordered to run concurrently. The case highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat theft of public infrastructure materials in Nigeria.
The suspects were apprehended during a routine midnight patrol conducted by operatives of the Osun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps on Monday along the expressway. Patrol officers noticed the duo riding a motorcycle with iron rods concealed in a sack. Upon sighting the Amotekun patrol vehicle, the suspects attempted to flee but were pursued and successfully apprehended. According to the Amotekun Corps spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu Abass, the suspects later confessed to stealing the iron rods from the construction site.
During investigations, the men admitted to having stolen construction materials from the same project on multiple occasions. Their confessional statements revealed that they sold the stolen iron rods to a scrap dealer for ₦35,000 per operation, splitting the proceeds between them. The repeated nature of the thefts underscores a pattern of criminal activity targeting public infrastructure projects in the region.
The prosecution was handled by Oyedele Akintayo, Legal Adviser to the Osun Amotekun Corps, who presented evidence and testimonies that led to the conviction. The court found the defendants guilty based on the evidence and their own admissions. The sentencing serves as a deterrent to others who may attempt to steal from government-funded projects, particularly those under construction.
The Ilesa-Ibadan Expressway is a critical transportation corridor in southwestern Nigeria, and the theft of construction materials threatens the timely completion of the project. Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to protecting public assets and ensuring the integrity of infrastructure development. The case also reflects the increasing collaboration between state security units and judicial authorities in addressing crime related to public projects.
This conviction is expected to send a strong message to would-be offenders that theft of construction materials will not be tolerated. Authorities continue to monitor high-risk areas and conduct regular patrols to prevent similar incidents. The case remains a reminder of the importance of safeguarding national infrastructure for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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