Two local security guards have been handed consecutive prison sentences after admitting to stealing gold jewellery and car accessories from a vehicle that had crashed in the early hours of the morning.
Kenneth Agwazin and Ayuba Pojti, who worked as neighbourhood watchmen, were convicted on Tuesday by the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan. Both men pleaded guilty to two counts—conspiracy and theft—and received one year in prison for each offence.
Presiding Judge S.M. Akintayo noted their guilty pleas and lack of prior convictions but ordered the sentences to run consecutively, citing the gravity of stealing from an accident scene.
A third individual, Tomiwa Akinsola, denied involvement and was released on bail set at ₦200,000, with two guarantors.
The court heard that the theft occurred on 23 December 2024 under the Asi-Bodija bridge, where a car had crashed overnight. Prosecuting officer Inspector Ayodele Ayeni said that the convicts, with other accomplices still at large, made off with valuables worth over ₦1.13 million (approx. £870).
Items reported stolen included 19 car rims, gold jewellery worth ₦600,000, a speaker system, hand tools, and household appliances. The vehicle’s owner, Tade Suara, had stepped away from the scene to seek emergency treatment for relatives injured in the crash.
Prosecutors stressed that the perpetrators were meant to be safeguarding the community, not exploiting vulnerable citizens.
The case has reignited debate in Nigeria about the integrity and oversight of informal security personnel operating in urban communities.
Legal references cited in the prosecution include Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Oyo State Criminal Code.
