The Lagos State Police Command announced on Saturday the arrest of a man accused of stealing an Uber car through deception. SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the incident to Pathwaynews.
The incident occurred on July 5, when the Akinpelu Police Division received a report around 8:00 p.m. from an Uber driver. The driver, whose name was not disclosed, reported that he had picked up a passenger identified as Isaiah from the NNPC Filling Station in Maryland, driving him in his Toyota Corolla to a hotel in the Oshodi area.
Hundeyin explained that at the hotel, the suspect bought food for the driver, including a plate of pepper soup and an energy drink. During this time, the suspect asked for a cotton bud to clean his ear, and the driver handed him his car key to use.
“The driver further stated that the suspect went downstairs after collecting the car key and drove away with the car from where it was parked,” Hundeyin said.
A team of police officers on a stop-and-search operation at Boladale Street later intercepted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the car’s ownership, he was arrested.
Hundeyin added that as the police officers were about to take the suspect to the station, the Uber driver arrived at the scene and identified his car. The suspect has been detained for further investigation.
