A yet-to-be-identified welding apprentice, who was accused of stealing gates valued at about N300,000 at his trainer’s shop at Ita-Sanni, Ogijo, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state has absconded.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has begun a manhunt for his arrest.

According to a source who was privy to the incident said the development was known after some suspects were nabbed before the investigation.

It was said that the suspect’s welding trainer, Moshood Odetunde, got to his shop and found out that two uncompleted iron gates worth N300,000, were stolen.

Odetunde reported the incident to the Ogijo Police Division, whose officers swung into action and worked with credible information provided, which led to the arrest of a suspect, Jemilu Monso.

Monso was arrested at a motor park, where he was caught loading a truck with the stolen doors, believing that he was making an effort to convey them to the northern part of the country.

Upon interrogation, he exonerated himself by disclosing that he purchased the items from a man identified as Suleiman Ibrahim. The police operatives also arrested the accused, who said the stolen items were sold to him by one of the welder’s apprentices.

It was learnt that the suspects are still in the custody of the police, and an effort is being made to arrest the accused apprentice for further investigation.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the development saying the suspected apprentice would be arrested to aid the investigation before the case is charged in court.

“Efforts are on to apprehend the said apprentice for a discreet investigation. After it is concluded, the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution,” Odutola said.