The
Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FEDSARS, Adeniji-Adele, Lagos, recently
paraded some suspects allegedly involved in different crimes ranging from
robbery, diversion of goods and receiving stolen goods operating within Lagos,
Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States. Among the suspects was a 39-year-old technician and
driver, Adeleke Ayodele.
Adeleke’s exploits in the criminal world was
blown open on February 24, 2014, after the dragnet of operatives of the FEDSARS
caught up with him for stealing a Honda Sports Utility, SUV, belonging to his
employer. The father of two told Crime Guard during an interview that his
plight began immediately he took up appointment as a driver to Mr. Iseoluwa
Elkanah. According to him, “I work under Mr. Elkanah as a driver. On my first
day at work, I drove my boss and his friends to Okitipupa in Ondo State for a
burial ceremony. While we were there, I stole the car and came back to Lagos
instead of waiting for them.
How he went into hiding
“When
I came back to Lagos, I started using the car as my personal vehicle. I was
driving it around town and going around my normal business. And I used the car
for two months, from December till February when they eventually arrested me.
While this was happening, I was hiding because the owner of the car knows the
house where I live.
Although, I am aware that one day they will
catch me, but I kept hiding from them. Each time they came to the house, I
would hide if I am inside. And if I am not, they will meet my wife and give her
the message they have for me. They were unable to arrest me all this time
because my wife was always feeding me with information each time they were
around. Most times, I will leave the house very early in the morning and
returned back late in the night to evade arrest. I was also using the vehicle
for transportation and to do ‘big boy’.
“When
I stole the car, it had no plate number. I later saw the number under the
vehicle, so I attached it on the car, without registering the vehicle. I also
bought a Navy tag, which I placed in front of the vehicle so that police and
road safety officials will not stop me on the way. At a point after they were
unable to apprehend me, My boss called me on phone and asked me what I wanted
to do with the car. He asked me if I wanted to buy the car since I don’t want
to return the vehicle. I told him yes but he didn’t give me chance to pay
because that was the week they arrested me.”
“Although I feel bad now, I don’t know what
led me into stealing the vehicle. All my life I have never been in police
custody before, so I can’t say this is the particular thing that actually led
me to commit the crime. It was after I committed the crime that the
consequences of what I had done dawned on me. All I know is that I stole the
vehicle because I wanted to be using it and I feel bad now that I have been
arrested.
Acquisition of Navy tag
“I
bought the tag from Navy barracks along Ijora area where they sell things. I
placed the Navy tag at the front of the car’s windscreen to prevent law
enforcement agents like LASTMA, VIO, and police from stopping me on the way
while driving. I entered into the barracks where they are selling things; I
bought it N500.”
How
he was apprehended
On that day, I had gone around my normal
business. I was on my way to Obalende, from Mile 12 when I was arrested by
detectives along third mainland bridge. On that day, I was carrying 300 tubers
of yams owned by a customer who had paid me N3000.00.
I usually do this whenever I don’t have money
to buy fuel for the car. I would carry load for people and also carry
passengers going towards my direction. The only advice I have for people
stealing cars is to repent and change their ways.” he said