A gang of five robbers, who specialised in stealing artefacts, was, on Sunday, arrested by men of the vigilance team in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Tribune Online gathered that the plan by five robbery suspects to steal some artefacts from National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Esie in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was foiled by the swift response of men of vigilance group in the area.

It was learnt that the suspects had arrived in the museum in the early hours of Sunday in a taxi cab with colour suspected to be from Ogun State and attempted to cart away the valuable items when they were intercepted by men of vigilance group in the community.

The museum, first to be established in Nigeria in 1945 by the Federal Government, houses more than 1,500 soapstone images, said to be largest in Africa.

It was gathered that men of vigilance team swooped on the suspects while trying to escape with their loots, mostly historical figures from the museum. A security source told the Tribune Online on Sunday on condition of anonymity that the suspects might have surveyed the area before deciding to carry out the operation.

It was also learnt that the suspects were handed over to the police and are currently undergoing interrogation at the state Criminal Investigation Department.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, said the matter had not yet been brought to the state police command.