A 25-year-old man identified as Meshach Sinuphro has been apprehended in Benin City, Edo State by the CP-Decoy Squad of the Delta State Police Command.
Sinuphro had disguised himself as an intending buyer of a Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) valued at N55 million in Abuja but absconded with the vehicle.
Confirming the arrest in Asaba, the State Police Commissioner, Wale Abbas, stated that the suspect was tracked down in Benin City and subsequently brought back to Asaba for further interrogation.
Abbas, speaking through the Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, explained that the suspect had gone to Abuja with the intention of purchasing the car. But during the negotiation process, he offered to test-drive the vehicle before finalizing the purchase.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the suspect fled with the car without making any payment to the seller over the agreed price.
Following investigations, it was discovered that the suspect had abandoned the stolen vehicle in a bush along Oteri road in Ughelli North council, Delta State, before escaping to Benin City, where he was eventually arrested.
During the police parade, the suspect, who claimed to be a 300-level Business Administration student in Turkey, admitted his intention to purchase the car for N30 million.
He explained that while negotiating with the dealer, they decided to test-drive the vehicle. However, after the dealer left the car momentarily to collect money from a Point of Sale (PoS) machine, the suspect took advantage of the situation and drove away.
Sinuphro clarified that his motive was not to sell the stolen vehicle but to use it for personal purposes.
He expressed regret for his actions and stated that he felt hypnotized or influenced to carry out the theft.
The suspect is currently in custody to face the legal consequences of his actions.
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