By Gbenga Ojikutu
A notorious motorcycle thief, Bernard Shadrach, has been arrested by the Oye Divisional Police Headquarters in collaboration with some residents of Trinity Hostel along Egbe Road, Oye-Ekiti.
The suspect was caught while attempting to snatch a motorcycle from a commercial rider.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abutu Sunday, the suspect and his fleeing partner specialised in snatching motorcycles from innocent motorcyclists within Oye-Ekiti. They, however, ran out of luck on April 25, 2024, when they disguised themselves as passengers going to Trinity Hostel along Egbe Road, Oye-Ekiti.
The suspect and his fleeing gang member boarded the motorcycle and, at a point, forcefully asked the motorcyclist to stop, after which they attacked him with dry, ground pepper and a hammer.
The motorcyclist, fortunately, subdued them with the assistance of passersby and was able to arrest one while the other escaped.
In the course of further investigation, two commercial motorcycle riders, who earlier reported cases of stolen motorcycles at the Police Headquarters in Oye Ekiti, identified the suspect as one of the two-man gang that snatched their motorcycles on April 2 and 22, respectively.
According to the police PRO, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and claimed that the fleeing suspect was his leader in the unlawful business of snatching motorcycles. He further stated that they both relocated from Benin City, Edo State, and started the unlawful business in November 2023
