Ondo police arrest suspected car thief who allegedly fled Port Harcourt with employer’s vehicle

A suspected vehicle thief has been arrested in Ondo State after allegedly stealing his employer’s car in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and fleeing with it.

The suspect, identified as Bamidele Rowell Lodi, was apprehended after a complaint that a motorist bought fuel worth ₦100,000 at a filling station in Epinmi-Akoko and drove away without paying.

According to police sources, the complaint was lodged by Akin Thomas, prompting operatives of the Isua Police Division to launch a pursuit of the fleeing motorist.

The suspect allegedly distracted the fuel attendant by asking him to fetch water before driving away without settling the bill.

“Upon receiving the complaint, operatives attached to Isua Division immediately mobilised, mounted roadblocks and commenced pursuit of the fleeing suspect,” a source said.

On sighting the police, the suspect reportedly diverted onto the Ise-Ikare Road in an attempt to escape arrest. However, the officers continued the pursuit and alerted soldiers stationed at the Nigerian Army checkpoint in Auga.

“Through this coordinated response, the suspect was intercepted and arrested for further investigation,” the source added.

Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the recovered vehicle to a theft case previously reported by the suspect’s employer in Port Harcourt.

Investigators compared the vehicle’s chassis number with the details provided to the police and found that they matched. Further intelligence reportedly indicated that the suspect had worked as a security guard for the vehicle’s owner before allegedly stealing the car and fleeing.

Confirming the arrest, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the suspect and the recovered vehicle remained in police custody as investigations continued.

He said investigators were working to establish the full circumstances of the alleged offences, verify ownership of the vehicle and determine whether the suspect could be linked to other criminal activities.

Abayomi commended the operatives of the Isua Division for their prompt response and the soldiers at the Auga checkpoint for their timely intervention.

He said the operation highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation, intelligence gathering and swift responses in tackling cross-border crime.

The police spokesman also urged residents to report suspicious activities, reiterating the command’s commitment to preventing Ondo State from becoming a safe haven for criminals.