24 hours after employment, driver absconds with company’s vehicle •Inscribes ‘Big Boss’ on it to show new status

A 30-year-old man, Jimoh Taoreed, who disappeared with a van used to distribute sachet water produced by his employer, the Anglican Diocese, at Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State, barely 24 hours after he was employed, has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command.

Disclosing the arrest of the suspect to Crime Reports during a press briefing last Monday, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, said that investigation revealed that the suspect had an ulterior motive when he applied for the job of a driver, as he gave his name as Saheed Popoola and said that he was an indigene of Eruwa town in Ibarapa area of the state.

It was however discovered that his real name is Jimoh Taoreed and he hailed from Irawo Owode in Atisbo Local Government Area which is in Oke Ogun axis of the state.

According to the police commissioner, Taoreed and his assistant, a motor boy, went to distribute bags of sachet water to buyers on June 30, but after carrying out the task, he deceived his assistant by telling him that he wanted to withdraw money from a bank in another location at same Bodija area.

After he parked the vehicle, the unsuspecting conductor also alighted to transact business in another bank, but before his return, Taoreed drove the vehicle to an unknown place and was not seen again until his arrest, Oyebade stated further.

He added that after a report was lodged at Bodija Market Division, detectives attached to the station began investigation which led to the suspect’s arrest and recovery of the vehicle at Irawo Owode.

On recovery of the vehicle, the police commissioner said that the suspect had removed the inscription that was originally on it and replaced it with Oga Nla (Big Boss).

The suspect, who confessed to the crime, told Crime Reports: “About three weeks ago, while distributing bags of water to customers, a spirit pushed me to drive the vehicle away. The thought was countered by another spirit which told me not to do it. But at the end, I obeyed the first one that urged me to steal the vehicle.

“I left the person who was distributing the water bags and drove the van to my village. I went to pay for a bold sticker reading ‘Oga Nla’ (Big boss) and posted it on the van. Unfortunately for me, I was traced to my village and arrested. I was suspected by my family members that I stole the vehicle. I believe they were the ones who informed the police. I admit that my act is of the devil and I promise not to do so again.”