What appeared to be an ordinary working day for a 28-year-old driver, Jeremiah Jacob Emmanuel, allegedly turned into an opportunity to betray his employer, as he reportedly masterminded the theft of a Lexus 460 SUV worth ₦45 million and arranged its sale in neighbouring Benin Republic for a fraction of its value.
After conveying his employer to the office earlier in the day, Emmanuel allegedly drove away with the black Lexus SUV without authorisation, reportedly using his wife’s alleged indisposition as an excuse for his subsequent absence.
But the alleged theft was only the beginning of a bigger plan. Rather than return the vehicle, the driver reportedly linked up with two other individuals, identified as 34-year-old Akeem Olawale and Monday Keshi, to move the SUV across the border to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where they allegedly planned to sell it for just ₦10 million.
The proposed deal meant disposing of a vehicle estimated at ₦45 million for less than one-quarter of its value.
However, the alleged plan suffered an unexpected setback when the vehicle owner reported the theft to the Ogun State Police Command.
The report, received by detectives of Agbado Division at about 7pm on November 12, 2026, immediately triggered a manhunt. Within hours, the detectives tracked down and arrested one of the suspects at Agbado Crossing, successfully recovering the stolen Lexus SUV in the process.
During preliminary investigation, the arrested suspect allegedly admitted involvement in the planned movement of the vehicle to Cotonou for sale.
While the police have recovered the vehicle, one of the alleged accomplices, Monday Keshi, remains at large, with efforts ongoing to apprehend him. The case is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation and further necessary action.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the detectives for their swift response, vigilance and professionalism, describing the operation as part of the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the disruption of criminal networks.
Te Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, in a statement on Friday, November 13, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could assist police operations.
