Four Arrested for Stealing Streetlights on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Ogun State Police Command announced on Thursday that they arrested four people for stealing solar-powered streetlights along the Longbridge part of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

PUNCH Metro reported on Thursday that at least 168 streetlights had been stolen from the bridge.

Police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed on Wednesday that they caught suspected vandals in the area. He said the suspects were taken to court to face charges.

"We have arrested suspected vandals in the act within that axis and charged them to court to face the full weight of the law. The command is committed to protecting critical infrastructure and urges residents to report any suspicious activities. See something, say something. Stay safe," he said.

Giving an update on Thursday, he stated that four suspects had been caught for the theft. He named them as Simon David, Yinusa Garba, and Fawas Suleiman.

Babaseyi added that these suspects were also involved in tampering with telecommunications equipment in the area. He said, "Simon David and Yinusa Garba were arrested on July 20, while Fawas Suleiman was arrested on July 9. Aside from vandalising the streetlights, they were also arrested for tampering with telecommunications infrastructure along the axis."

The spokesperson also mentioned another suspect, Tunde Tobiloba, who was caught cutting solar street-light infrastructure around the Long Bridge area. "He was charged to court after being pursued by security personnel. Detectives visited the scene and recovered some of the affected poles," he explained.

The streetlights were installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre-long bridge to provide light and enhance safety for drivers, especially at night. Sadly, PUNCH Metro noticed that the lights started disappearing just months after they were installed.

During a visit to the bridge on Tuesday, many areas were found stripped of their lighting equipment. A count from the OPIC end of the bridge towards Wawa revealed that about 168 solar-powered streetlights had been taken away.

It appeared that the thieves had carefully dismantled the lights, loosening screws and nuts before removing the poles. Some lights were taken at intervals, while others were vandalised over stretches of up to 300 metres. Some poles had clear signs of forceful removal.

The Longbridge sees heavy traffic daily, with thousands of drivers using it to travel between Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. The bridge is also known for attacks by criminals, especially targeting motorists with broken-down vehicles at night.

The installation of streetlights was meant to provide light and help reduce such attacks. However, motorists and business owners are worried that the ongoing theft of the solar-powered lights is returning the busy route to darkness, putting road users at greater risk.

A motorist, who called himself Segun, said the theft seemed planned. He commented, "This is very sad. The theft was carefully carried out by a number of people because no one would remove a streetlight in 10 minutes. So, they must have taken their time to do it."

Segun added, "Now, the removal is gradually turning the place back to its former state. Darkness makes it difficult to see properly, especially when you are driving at night. You cannot easily see what is ahead of you or identify people standing by the roadside. It is frightening because this bridge is already known for attacks on motorists whose vehicles develop faults."

He urged authorities to act fast, warning that continued theft of the lights could expose drivers to more criminal attacks. A business owner at Wawa, Dade Aina, also expressed concern over the removal of a streetlight near an underpass linking both sides of the area. She said, "There used to be a streetlight just by the underpass, but it was also removed early this year. Since then, the place has been left dark."

Aina highlighted the risk for drivers at night, stating, "We don’t know the perpetrators, but the situation is becoming worrying. When a vehicle breaks down here at night, the driver is already vulnerable. You know Longbridge is very dangerous. If criminals can attack or kidnap people there, how much more when there are no streetlights? If there is no light, it becomes easier for criminals to operate without being noticed."

PUNCH Metro observed that the vandalism likely happened over time. Some poles were found with only one nut still attached, suggesting that the vandals first loosened one nut and returned later to take away the poles.

Another business owner, Labake Aliu, said the theft seemed to happen mostly at night. She shared, "No one knows exactly when they remove them, but we suspect it is mostly done at night. Most of us close our shops by 7pm, and by the time we resume in the morning, people coming from the Longbridge direction tell us about the latest removal."

Some police officers were seen at a makeshift post along the Longbridge inward Lagos. Another motorist, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the missing lights were still a concern despite police presence. He said, "The lights were installed for a reason. There used to be police officers patrolling the bridge, and some were also seen sitting at the makeshift post along the bridge."

He added, "But it is surprising that despite their presence, the solar lights are still going missing. This is not just about the darkness; it can also increase the risk of accidents and criminal attacks. The authorities need to find out who is behind this and stop them before all the lights disappear."

Motorists are calling for better surveillance around the bridge and quick replacement of the stolen streetlights. They also want officials to do more to stop scavengers and vandals targeting public infrastructure along the expressway.

This situation has raised concerns about scavengers who are known to target public infrastructure for materials and scrap. Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, said they are working to educate the public about vandalism and catch those responsible. He stated, "It is not new; it is a recurring thing. It is being carried out by vandals. You can’t allow your selfishness to affect the generality of the people."

Akinbiyi added, "We are doing what we can in terms of sensitisation so that we can reach their minds. Those who are caught in the process will face the full wrath of the law. Because you cannot allow your own greed and obsession to affect the lives and safety of other people."

When contacted on Wednesday, Richard Adeleye, the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, confirmed the theft. He said some vandals had been arrested and taken to court, adding that they are working to prevent a repeat of such incidents. He said, "We have arrested the vandals and charged them to court. The police can confirm this. I just resumed office as the acting controller a month ago, and the arrests were made before I resumed. Meanwhile, we are putting strategies in place to stop the theft."