His arrest,
escape from police cell and re-arrest is generating controversy. Wasiu
Saka, 30, was a notorious car robber in Ondo State and his mode of operation
was to apply as a driver to un-suspecting employers and, after securing
employment, abscond with their cars. After stealing cars from his employers in
Lagos State, Saka will drive to Akungba-Akoko, his home town in Ondo
State, to show off that he had ‘arrived’ and live big after which he would sell
the car at a ridiculous price and return to Lagos for another car theft
operation.
He was
arrested by detectives from the Ondo State Police Command last month with a
Toyota Hiace bus marked, Lagos JJJ 94XD.
After
interrogation, he reportedly confessed to have stolen the bus from a Good
Samaritan who, after listening to his story that he has a family
in Ondo State and had been jobless for months and desperately in need of a job
to feed his family members, employed him as a driver.
Police
sources hinted that Saka had stolen no fewer than four vehicles, including a
vehicle belonging to a notable company in Lagos.
After his
arrest on June 21, he, however, miraculously escaped from police cell in
the night of the second day after the arrest.
His escape
caused a stir as the police authorities queried the officers in charge of his
case and a standing order was given to smoke him out from his hideout.
The suspect
was re-arrested after a manhunt for him yielded result in Akungba-Akoko area.
Upon re-arrest,
Saka allegedly confessed that his escape from police cell was made possible
with help from some policemen, and that after paying them relocated to Ile-Ife,
Osun State to avoid the prying eyes of police detectives.
He alleged
that those who aided his escape from police cell also taught him what to do to
avoid re-arrest.
Saka alleged
that while the police were searching for him, he was in touch with his
accomplices from his hideout.
In Ile-Ife,
Saka said he continued with his robbery business because, according to him,
that was the only business he knew how to do.
He stated
that he secured a driving job with one Mrs Rosemary Omotosho whom she took to
church on Sunday, July 26, in her Toyota car marked Lagos LSR 68 DH.
Speaking
exclusively with Sunday Vanguard after he was paraded by the Ondo
State Police Command, alongside 36 other suspected criminals terrorizing the
state, the suspect Saka said after he dropped his employer in church he fled
with the car only to inform her that the vehicle had been stolen.
He said that
because Omotosho is rich, he wanted to extort her before selling the car and
bolting away.
Five days
later, he called her again that some people had recovered the car in Ibadan but
were demanding for N35, 000 before they could bring back the car to her.
The
employer, according to him, immediately sent a recharge voucher of N10,000 to
him to pay.
According to
him, he informed the boss that the people insisted that the car would not be
released until the balance was paid.
As this went
on, he said he relocated to Akungba-Akoko with the car.
Police
source said Saka was re-arrested in a beer parlour .
It was
gathered that it was while he was being interrogated for the previous alleged
crimes that his activities in Ife came to light .However, during interrogation,
the suspect alleged that he was able to escape from police cell after settling
some policemen with N60,000.
“When I was
told that I would be taken to court and may be remanded in Olokuta Prison, I
discussed with some policemen on how they could assist me”,he was quoted as
saying.
“ I later
paid them N60, 000 and they facilitated my escape from cell and I fled to
Ile-Ife. Saka described the police allegation that he escaped from cell
as unfair, saying he paid his way through.
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