Security operatives in Oyo state have arrested a 14-year-old boy identified as Sulaiman Abubakar at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly stealing cables worth N300,000 from the stadium’s main bowl.
Wasilat Adegoke, the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, made the announcement following her visit to the stadium to assess the damage from the theft. She called on the staff of the state sports council to remain vigilant and emphasized that maintaining security at the stadium is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
Adegoke also assured that the state government would enhance the security measures at the sports complex to prevent future incidents.
Abubakar, a Junior Secondary School (JSS 2) student at Eleyele High School, admitted to entering the stadium during a training session of the Shooting Star Football Club.
He revealed that he stayed overnight in one of the rooms after the security personnel locked all the stadium entrances.
During questioning, the boy confessed to breaking pipes with a large stone to access and cut the camera cables and lights, intending to sell them.
His mother, a resident of the Sabo area in Ibadan, fainted upon seeing her son in handcuffs but was revived by stadium staff. She mentioned that she had punished Sulaiman for a previous offense the night before.
The case has been transferred from the Stadium Police Post to the Mokola Police Station for further investigation.
