Seven suspected hoodlums that took part in the looting of the Oluyole, Ibadan private residence of Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo Central) have been arrested by the Oyo State Joint Anti-Crime Security Task Force Team codenamed Operation Burst.

The men of the Operation Burst made the arrest within the premises of the house following a distress call.

One of the suspects was said to have carried a keg of petrol to the house and threatened to burn the house before they were apprehended.

The arrival of the men of the security outfit saved the entire property from being completely looted and burnt.

Multimillion naira empowerment items, including hundreds of motorcycles, generators, grinding machines and sewing machines were some of the items carted away by suspected hoodlums from the residence.

The arrested suspects were as at the time of filing this report in the custody of the security outfit.

Folarin, a former Senate Leader is the current chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Downstream Petroleum and Legislative Compliance.

Speaking with journalists at the scene, the Senator’s elder brother, Yinka Folarin, said the empowerment items carted away by the hoodlums were meant for distribution to people in 11 local governments in his senatorial district on November 6.

According to him, 330 motorcycles were within the premises of the house before the arrival of the hoodlums at 11:50am, saying “we are still expecting more motorcycles before the empowerment day. But count the remaining bikes now, they are not up to 25.”

When The Nation counted the remaining motorcycles, only 16 were left.

He added 130 generators meant for the empowerment were also completely looted, apart from grinding and sewing machines that were also carted away.

The elder Folarin explained the hoodlums found their way into the expansive compound by breaking in through the pedestrian gate to the house and had a free reign before the arrival of Operation burst.

By Yinka Adeniran