ABUJA: Police Nab Car Wash Attendant With Stolen Vehicle

Afeez Ayo, a car wash assistant in Abuja has been nabbed by the police for stealing a customers 2008 Toyota Highlander SUV.

Ayo, a OND holder reportedly changed the plate number of the car before driving it to Ibadan where he picked 4 others enroute Lagos.

The suspect was arrested at Agodi Junction, Ibadan on his way from Lagos by detectives from Apo police division, Abuja in collaboration with the Oyo State Police Command.


Anjuguri Manzah, police spokesperson revealed that the owner of the SUV, Mrs. Adenike Sani, had left the car with Ayo at a car wash at the Apo Resettlement Centre, Abuja only for the attendant to disappear with the vehicle along with a Tecno phone belonging to a lady.

Upon being reported, police detectives immediately began investigating until the car was found in Ibadan and and the suspect arrested.

“I took the vehicle to get back at the owner of the car wash because he had asked another person to take over the facility’s management. I was afraid when I got to Lagos and I decided to bring back the vehicle, but I was stranded,” he stated.

Ayo, 23, revealed he picked up 4 passengers and charged them N500 each to raise money to fuel the SUV.

On how he managed to beat security operatives at check points, he said:
“Policemen stopped me about five times, but I refused to stop. Please forgive me, I will change. I will learn a skill and work,” he pleaded as policemen laughed at him.

Manzah advised motorists against leaving their car keys with car wash attendants, noting that incidents of car theft were on the rise.

He recalled that the police on July 24, 2017 also recovered a 2003 Toyota Corolla which was stolen from where it was parked at the Apo Resettlement Centre.

“The owner parked the car outside a shopping plaza in Apo and removed the battery, but by the next day, it had been stolen. But the car was recovered at Garki, Abuja by our men,” Manzah said.