The Enugu State Police Command has warned motorists and bike riders to be wary of criminals who pose as roadside mechanics across the country.
The warning was following the arrest of a roadside mechanic who pretended to be helping a dispatch rider whose motorcycle broke down but ended up running away with the bike.
In a statement by Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)DSP Daniel Ndukwe, he cautioned that,” motorists, are hereby advised to be wary of who they allow to assist them in this manner, to avoid falling prey to such criminals and their activities”.
Explaining what transpired, he said,” operatives serving in Awkunanaw Police Division, on April 1, 2024, at about 5:30 p.m., arrested one Musa Abdullahi, 22, in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, and recovered a Logistics Company’s Daylong Motorcycle, which he fraudulently stole from its rider (names withheld) at One-Day, Agbani Road, Enugu, at about 3:00 p.m. on the same date.
“The suspect’s arrest is following the receipt of a report from the rider alleging how the suspect unsuspectingly made away with the motorcycle under the pretense of being a mechanic and could fix the motorbike, which broke down at the mentioned location in Enugu.
” Preliminary investigation shows that the suspect, after presenting himself as a mechanic, who could fix the motorcycle, asked the rider to go to the distant New Artisan, Enugu, to buy a sprocket, which he said was responsible for the breakdown of the motorbike. The rider complied but came back to meet the absence of the suspect, who had made away with the motorbike to the faraway Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, where he was arrested by the operatives.
“Given this unfortunate criminal circumstance, the public, particularly motorists, are hereby advised to be wary of who they allow to assist them in this manner, to avoid falling prey to such criminals and their activities”.
