A self acclaimed mobile police officer has been arrested while attempting to steal a Toyota Highlander SUV at Magboro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
The 42-year-old suspect identified as Omotoso Ayobami was apprehended on Friday by operatives of the Oodua People’s Congress.
According to the report, he was trying to drive away the Highlander with registration number Lagos KSF-146JZ from a mechanic workshop in the area.
The report by eyewitnesses reveals that the suspect had picked up the car keys from the dashboard while the mechanic was away. He reportedly started the engine, and was about to reverse the vehicle when the police intercepted.
Narrating the story, Thomas Josiah, the mechanic said his apprentice called his attention when the car was being moved.
He said; “I was working on the vehicle and left the key on the dashboard. My apprentice alerted me that someone was moving the car. I rushed back and caught him inside the car trying to drive it away.”
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The National Commandant of OPC New Era, Olayiwola Ogunsolu, who also confirmed the incident to newsmen said;
“He picked the key when the mechanic was working on the vehicle and tried to make away with it. Luckily, the panel beater and some of our boys ran after him and caught him inside the car.
“He claimed he works with some high-ranking police officers, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Abuja. That is why we immediately called the police so he could be handed over properly. When the officers came, they asked us to untie him, but I insisted they put handcuffs on him first to prevent escape.”
During interrogation, the suspect repeatedly said he was on an assignment on that particular car. He further insisted that some senior officers in Abuja, including his commandant, were aware of the operation and that he was in Lagos on official duty.
“I am a mobile police officer. My former lecturer told me about this job. The number plate is for the Joint Task Force on Counterterrorism.
“They should pardon me. I won’t do police work again. I am not a thief,” he said.
When taken to Wawa Police Station, the Divisional Police Officer, Samuel Ayegbede, refused to take in the suspect saying that he was beaten up already.
He further recounted that he had spent over N300,000 treating a patient when something of that sort happened in time past.
At the time of reporting this, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola said there was no such report to the police yet.
