Ondo Police uncover a major store theft operation in Ore, arresting seven suspects over stolen goods worth N20.45 million after an internal staff conspiracy.
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a well-planned store theft operation following the arrest of seven suspects linked to the unlawful removal of goods worth N20.45 million from a commercial outlet in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The development has raised fresh concerns about internal employee fraud and growing commercial crime across business hubs in Ondo State.
According to police authorities, the case was reported on January 3, 2026, when the store owner, Ogunyomi Segun, approached the Ore Divisional Police Headquarters to lodge a formal complaint.
He informed officers that goods had been disappearing from his store over an extended period, spanning from 2024 to early 2026. Initial suspicions of poor inventory management later gave way to evidence of deliberate internal sabotage.
Investigations revealed that the crime was not a random incident but a coordinated store theft scheme allegedly carried out by trusted employees working in collaboration with external accomplices.
The suspects reportedly exploited their positions and familiarity with the business operations to siphon goods without raising immediate suspicion.
Police sources identified three of the suspects as key staff members of the affected store.
They include the storekeeper, Oyineke Joseph; the computer operator, Abioye Yusuf; and another employee, Abdullahi Quadir.
These individuals allegedly manipulated stock records, concealed missing inventory, and facilitated the movement of goods out of the premises.
Further inquiry led to the arrest of three alleged receivers of the stolen items—Micheal Njoku, Agu Monday, and Ikuemehin Oloruntimilehin—who were said to have knowingly purchased or redistributed the goods.
A commercial driver, identified simply as Ojewuyi, was also taken into custody for allegedly assisting with transportation during the operation.
The stolen items were mainly fast-moving consumer products, including assorted soft drinks, Trophy cans, and other canned beverages.
The police estimated the total value of the goods lost to be Twenty Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N20,450,000).
Investigators noted that such products are often targeted in commercial crimes due to their easy resale and high demand.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement and gave detailed accounts of how the store theft was carried out.
Each suspect was said to have explained his role, from falsifying records to physically removing goods and distributing them through informal channels within and outside the Ore community.
The Ondo State Police Command described the case as a textbook example of employee conspiracy, warning business owners to strengthen internal controls and conduct regular audits.
Officers involved in the investigation emphasized that prolonged financial losses often point to insider involvement rather than external burglary.
Security analysts say incidents like this highlight the increasing sophistication of commercial crime networks, where employees leverage trust and access to undermine businesses.
The Ore case, they noted, mirrors a wider trend across retail and wholesale sectors where weak oversight creates opportunities for sustained fraud.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, spokesperson for the command, confirmed that the suspects would be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
He added that the police remain committed to tackling store theft and other forms of economic sabotage that threaten small and medium-scale enterprises.
Residents of the Ore community have welcomed the arrests, describing them as a deterrent to similar crimes.
Some business owners say the incident serves as a wake-up call to adopt better monitoring systems, including digital inventory tracking and staff rotation.
As Ondo State continues to expand its commercial activities, the police have reiterated their resolve to clamp down on crimes that undermine economic stability.
The command urged the public to report suspicious activities early, noting that timely information was key to unraveling the Ore store theft case.
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