The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has apprehended a 28-year-old man, Edet Friday, in connection with the alleged theft of a mini-bus.
The vehicle in question belonged to a local pastor who had entrusted it to Friday for commercial transport purposes under a daily payment agreement.
The arrest occurred in the Ahor bypass area of Benin City, where ESSC operatives intercepted Friday while he was reportedly attempting to sell the missing mini-bus.
According to sources, the pastor reported the vehicle and Friday missing to the police after the suspect disappeared with the bus shortly after it was handed over.
An anonymous source indicated that Friday allegedly concealed the bus for approximately two weeks, actively seeking a buyer. When he was unsuccessful in finding a purchaser, he purportedly took the vehicle to scavengers near the Ahor bypass with the intention of selling it to spare parts dealers.
Reports suggest that the scavengers had already begun dismantling the bus, removing doors, the fuel tank, and other components, when ESSC operatives arrived on the scene. Upon questioning the spare parts dealers, the suspect allegedly confessed that the bus had been given to him by a pastor for commercial use but admitted to his intent to sell it.
Richard Balogun, the Deputy Commander of Operations for the ESSC, confirmed the incident and affirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that criminals find no refuge within the state. He stated that the suspect had begun dismantling the vehicle for the purpose of selling its parts when ESSC operatives intervened.
Balogun further noted that Edet Friday has been handed over to the police for further investigation and subsequent prosecution. The ESSC continues to maintain a vigilant presence throughout Edo State to deter criminal activity and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
