Operatives of the Amotekun corps in Osun State have apprehended a 30-year-old ex-convict, Emmanuel Popoola for allegedly stealing phones belonging to students.

The suspect was reportedly working as a security guard at a private secondary school in Ile-Ife when the theft occurred.

While speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the commander of the security outfit, Brig-Gen Bashir Adewinmbi (retd.) said after the accused was arrested, he confessed to the theft.

“In June, some students of Crown Comprehensive College, Ile-Ife, who were taking examinations, gave their phones to the suspect to keep for them as they were not allowed to take their phones into the examination hall.

“The suspect, after collecting all the phones, ran away from the school and went into hiding. The incident was reported to the Amotekun corps and through intelligence gathering and investigation, we were able to arrest the suspect on Wednesday at Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area,” Adewinmbi informed.

Popoola, the commander made known is an unrepentant thief as he had served eight months in jail term before now for stealing phones.

After he was arrested, seven SIM cards of various telecom networks were found on him. Also, an Infinix phone with a SIM card, Tecno Pop 3 casing, Infinix Hot casing, Tecno Spark casing and one Automated Teller Machine card were listed as items found on him.

Popoola is currently a guest at the police custody as further investigation commences.