Police arrest man two years after stealing 800 bags of cement

Acting upon a petition submitted by TSL Company, agents of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone Six command, Calabar, have taken into custody Achugo Kenneth Onyebuchi, 41, of the Ogoda community in Ahoada Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The onboard tracking device (OBC) was allegedly tampered with by the suspect, making it impossible for the business to track the truck's real-time location and visibility.

Onyebuchi allegedly stole an articulated truck, registration number APP 840 XW, loaded with 800 bags of cement worth ₦33,469,930.00, from Calabar on January 6, 2022, according to a police report made public by zone six PPRO Nelson Okpabi.

He was supposed to deliver the merchandise to a client in Owerri, Imo State.

On December 1, 2023, detectives detained the suspect, who was living at Flat B', Ikot Nkebre Layout, 8′ Miles, Calabar, based on reliable information.

During questioning, Onyebuchi acknowledged that he had diverted the truck, but he gave it to a friend of his, Mr. Hamilton, in Akwa Ibom, to finish the job without notifying the company or getting its approval as needed.

Onyebuchi went on to say that a few days later, he received a call from an unidentified person telling him that the truck carrying contraband rice had been stopped by Nigerian Customs officers in Edo State.

He continued by saying that he left for Port Harcourt and obtained two more jobs there as well as in Enugu, where he was detained.

He expressed regret for not reporting or updating the company on the truck's location since January 6, 2022, and he held Hamilton responsible for the company's tracking device being altered.

Jonathan Towuru, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, praised the detectives and issued a warning that criminals would have nowhere to hide for however long.

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