A fake mobile police officer tried to steal a Toyota Highlander SUV on Friday in Magboro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State. Local security operatives from the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) caught him during the attempted theft.
The suspect, 42-year-old Omotoso Ayobami, entered a mechanic workshop, picked up the car key from the dashboard, started the SUV, and tried to drive it away. However, before he could leave, a panel beater and OPC members intercepted him inside the vehicle.
Olayiwola Ogunsolu, the National Commandant of OPC New Era, described what happened. He said Ayobami waited until the mechanic got distracted, then grabbed the key and entered the car. The panel beater noticed and alerted others. They chased him down and caught him immediately.
Ayobami claimed he was a mobile police officer attached to the Joint Task Force under the Akpata Area Command. He said he was working on official duty and mentioned several senior officers, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Abuja, as his superiors.
Because of those claims, OPC leaders called the police to ensure proper handover. When police officers arrived, they asked OPC members to untie the suspect. However, Ogunsolu insisted they handcuff him first to prevent escape.
Thomas Josiah, the workshop owner, confirmed the event. “I left the key on the dashboard,” he said. “My apprentice told me someone was reversing the car. I rushed back and found the man in the driver’s seat.”
Ayobami stuck to his story, saying a former lecturer introduced him to the job. He claimed the number plate belonged to the Joint Task Force on Counterterrorism. He pleaded for forgiveness, saying, “They should pardon me. I won’t do police work again. I am not a thief.”
However, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Wawa Police Station, Samuel Ayegbede, refused to take him in. He said previous suspects brought in after being beaten had cost the station large sums in medical care. “The last time we accepted a case like this, I spent over ₦300,000 on treatment,” he explained.
When contacted, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the police had not received any formal report on the incident. Until that happens, the case may not move forward officially.
This arrest highlights the ongoing risk of impersonation and theft along major highways in Nigeria. It also shows how community groups like the OPC help stop crimes before suspects escape. The presence of impostors like this fake mobile police officer undermines public trust and endangers lives. Stronger enforcement and quicker police response remain essential to keeping such criminals off the streets.
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