By John Dike, Osogbo
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Olaniyan Taofik, to two years imprisonment without the option of a fine for unlawful entry, theft, and malicious damage to property.
The conviction followed Taofik’s arrest by operatives of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, who acted after receiving a complaint about a theft incident on a private farm.
The case was prosecuted by Mr Oyedele Akintayo Esq., Director of Legal Services for the Osun Amotekun Corps, on behalf of the Attorney General of Osun State.
According to the prosecution, Taofik unlawfully entered the farmland of Mr. Omidoyin Clement, a resident of Isale-Osun, Ila-Orangun, on July 16, 2025, and carted away farm tools, cocoa, bananas, walnuts, and live catfish —all valued at approximately N400,000.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendant vandalized a CCTV surveillance camera installed on the property, resulting in an additional ₦300,000 worth of damage.
The incident was reported to the Ila-Orangun Command of the Amotekun Corps, which immediately launched an investigation. The defendant was subsequently apprehended while attempting to sell the stolen items.
During interrogation by the Corps’ Intelligence and Investigation Unit, Taofik allegedly confessed to the crime and admitted to having committed similar offenses in the past.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate A.A. Ayeni found the defendant guilty of offenses contrary to and punishable under Sections 81, 390(9), and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
Magistrate Ayeni emphasized the need to deter habitual offenders and protect the livelihoods of hardworking citizens, especially farmers in rural communities.
The Osun Amotekun Corps reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and urged residents to support ongoing security efforts by reporting suspicious activities, particularly in vulnerable agricultural zones.
