The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected vehicle thief after a complaint over an alleged ₦100,000 fuel scam led to the recovery of a vehicle reportedly stolen from his employer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspect, identified as Bamidele Rowell Lodi, was apprehended following a police chase and collaboration with Nigerian Army personnel at a checkpoint in Auga, Ondo State.
The police said the incident began around 11:59am on Friday, October 9, when a complainant, Akin Thomas, reported that a motorist had bought fuel worth ₦100,000 in Epinmi but fled without paying.
The suspect allegedly asked the fuel attendant to fetch water before driving away. Following the report, operatives attached to the Isua Police Division mounted roadblocks and pursued the fleeing motorist.
According to the command, the suspect diverted towards the Ise–Ikare Road after sighting the police in an attempt to escape arrest. The officers, however, sustained the pursuit and contacted soldiers at the Auga checkpoint, where he was intercepted.
Further investigation reportedly linked the vehicle in the suspect’s possession to one allegedly stolen from his employer in Port Harcourt. Police investigators compared its chassis number with details of the vehicle reported stolen and found that the numbers matched.
The command said preliminary intelligence indicated that Lodi worked as a security guard for the vehicle’s owner before allegedly stealing the car and fleeing. The suspect and the recovered vehicle remain in police custody as investigators probe the case and determine whether he may be linked to other offences.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, commended the Isua police operatives and the soldiers involved in the arrest, describing the operation as an example of effective cooperation among security agencies. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and urged residents to report suspicious activities.