A 32-year-old man, Eric Effiong, has been arrested by operatives of the
State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, Lagos State Police Command, for
allegedly absconding with a school bus belonging to Peak Lane
International School, Oremeji, Akute, a suburb of Lagos.
According
to Vanguard, Effiong, a father of two, before he absconded with the
school bus worth over N3.6 million, had worked with them for six years.
According
to a police source at the command headquarters, the suspect was
arrested following a petition to the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai
Owoseni, by the proprietress of the school.
The source said: “On
May 27, the proprietress of Peak Lane International School, Oremiji
Close, Oremiji Estate, Alagbole Akute, reported that on March 7, a
driver with the school, Eric Effiong, absconded with one of the buses
with number plates SMK 123 EM.”
The suspect, who relocated from
his known address and switched off his phone, was finally arrested by
SIB operatives, who tracked him down in Calabar, Cross River State.
Before
his arrest, Effiong had already changed the number plate of the bus,
re-branded it with Cross Lines Transportation Company colours and was
operating Calabar-Uyo routes.
The Commissioner of Police has directed that he be charged to court for prosecution.
Speaking
to Vanguard, Effiong said: “I was arrested for stealing a school bus. I
was going to drop a passenger when they came down from a taxi and told
me I was under arrest. I really feel bad that this thing happened to me.
I just pray my boss would forgive me.
“While on official duty
earlier this year, I hit a child of about one year and broke his leg. I
spent over N200,000 to treat the baby.
“When I ran out of cash I
began to sell my items to raise money. In the cause of that, my rent
expired and my salary was N54,000. Because the school doesn’t give loan,
I became frustrated. I did not know what to do and decided to abscond
with the bus.
“When I got home with the bus, my parents asked how I came about it. I did not tell them anything.
“The
bus was already white. I only branded it with Cross Lines
Transportation Company because of the police on the road. It is safer
operating under a brand name because it shields one from unnecessary
arrests and harassments by security agents.
“I did that without
the knowledge of the company. Since I was not operating in their park,
it was difficult for them to suspect me. Apart from that, I only used it
for one week because the front tyres were not good.
“It is not
true that I switched off my phone. Only one of my colleagues called me
the first day this thing happened. He asked me where I was. We did not
discuss anything.”
