Runaway Guard Nabbed After Pump-and-Dash Leads to Stolen SUV Discovery

​AKURE — What began as a petty fuel scam at a roadside filling station in Ondo State has blown the lid off a major interstate grand theft, culminating in the dramatic arrest of a runaway security guard.

​The suspect, identified as Bamidele Rowell Lodi, thought he had pulled off the ultimate getaway after swindling a fuel attendant out of ₦100,000 worth of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Instead, his trickery triggered an inter-agency dragnet that exposed a stolen vehicle traced all the way from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

​A Bold Pump-and-Dash

​The bizarre chain of events unfolded around midday on Friday, October 9, 2026, in the quiet community of Epinmi. According to an alert filed by station attendant Akin Thomas, a motorist driving a sleek vehicle pulled into the forecourt requesting ₦100,000 worth of fuel.

​Employing a classic diversion tactic, Lodi allegedly sent the attendant on a decoy errand to fetch water. The moment the worker’s back was turned, the motorist slammed his foot on the accelerator, vanishing into traffic without settling the bill.

​The distraught attendant immediately raised the alarm, prompting operatives attached to the Isua Police Division to spring into action. Roadblocks were instantly mounted, and a high-speed pursuit of the fleeing vehicle was launched.

​Military Synergy and Roadblock Trap

​Cornered by approaching police units, Lodi veered off his path and scrambled toward the Ise–Ikare Road in a desperate bid to shake off his pursuers.

​Unbeknownst to the suspect, law enforcement had activated a tight operational synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Army. Troops stationed at the strategic Auga military checkpoint intercepted the vehicle, boxing in the fleeing driver and bringing his chaotic joyride to a screeching halt.

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​From Minor Fraud to Major Heist

​While recovering the vehicle and detaining Lodi appeared at first to be a routine collar for a pump-and-dash offense, a deeper forensic check blew the case wide open.

​Investigators ran the vehicle’s chassis number through security databases, linking it directly to an active stolen vehicle report filed out of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Subsequent background checks revealed that Lodi had been trusted to work as a security guard for the vehicle’s owner in the Garden City before allegedly betraying that trust, hijacking the automobile, and fleeing across state lines.

​Police Command Applauds Collaboration

​Reacting to the breakthrough, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, lauded the swift professionalism displayed by the Isua Divisional officers and the prompt tactical intervention of the Nigerian Army personnel at Auga.

​The Commissioner emphasized that the successful operation underscores the unmatched power of inter-agency cooperation and actionable intelligence in neutralizing cross-border crime. He issued a stern warning that Ondo State will not be a sanctuary for criminal elements, assuring the public that a thorough investigation is underway and that Lodi will face the full weight of the law once inquiries are concluded.