Edo State Security Operatives Apprehend Twenty Eight Year Old Suspect Attempting to Sell Stolen Clerical Asset

A 28-year-old man in Edo State was arrested while attempting to sell a pastor’s mini bus as spare parts. The suspect is now in police custody for prosecution.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 4:23 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

A Breach of Trust Culminating in a High Stakes Interception

The Edo State Security Corps recently executed a targeted arrest of a twenty eight year old individual, identified as Edet Friday, following allegations of vehicle theft involving a commercial mini bus. According to reports from the ESSC, the vehicle was originally provided to the suspect by a local pastor under a formal daily payment lease agreement intended for transit operations. The situation escalated when the suspect allegedly severed communication and disappeared with the asset shortly after the keys were handed over, prompting an immediate report to law enforcement agencies.

The Strategic Disappearance and Search for a Black Market Buyer

Following the initial disappearance, the suspect reportedly entered a period of concealment that lasted approximately two weeks. Investigative details suggest that Friday successfully hid the vehicle from public view while actively scouting for a private buyer to purchase the stolen property. When a direct sale failed to materialize, the suspect allegedly shifted his strategy toward the illicit spare parts trade, relocating the vehicle to the Ahor bypass region on the outskirts of Benin City to facilitate a quick liquidation through scavengers and local dealers.

Operational Recovery Amidst the Rapid Destruction of Evidence

The intervention by security operatives occurred at a critical juncture where the physical integrity of the vehicle had already been compromised. Upon arriving at the scene near the bypass, officers discovered that the bus had been partially dismantled, with the doors, fuel tank, and various internal components already stripped by scrap workers. During the subsequent confrontation, the suspect failed to provide a legitimate account for the vehicle's state, eventually admitting to his original arrangement with the clergyman and his subsequent intent to sell the property for personal gain.