An Ex-policeman from Delta Police Command and a staff of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) in Rivers have been arrested for alleged car theft by the police in Bayelsa.
This is contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr Alex Akhigbe.
The statement identified the ex-policeman as Cpl. James Bekem, who was dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
It said that the offence was committed along the Owerri axis of Owerri-Elele road in Imo.
The statement said the policeman was arrested in Patani, Delta, for alleged theft of a Mazda 323 car with registration number AR 244 UGH.
It said that the vehicle was stolen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, and traced to Patani in Delta.
“One Corporal James Bekem, a dismissed policeman that served in Delta was arrested in connection with the stolen car,” Akhigbe said.
The statement added that the accused had confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court.
It said that the prison official, Uche Onuigie, was arrested for alleged theft of a red Coloured Golf car with registration number KMR 128 XA.
According to the statement, Onuigie told the police that he bought the car for N200,000.
However, police investigation revealed that the accused hired the vehicle from a driver, Paul Godfrey, in Yenagoa to take him to Owerri.
“At a point along the road, he told the driver that his driving was too sluggish and demanded to drive ostensibly to meet his schedule.
“When the driver handed over the key and came down to move to passenger seat, he (Onuigie) drove off.
“The Golf car was later recovered at the prison service barrack in Port Harcourt, Rivers, with the accused,” said the statement.