Sixty-two-year-old former machine operator Matthew Oboro recounts to Ajibade Omape how his car was stolen, later recovered by the police in Warri, Delta State, after he made some payments, only for it to be converted into their patrol vehicle
When and how was your car stolen?
It was on November 13, 2015, when I attended a programme at Mercy Land Church along Jakpa Road. I parked it close to a clinic. After the service, I walked to where I parked the vehicle, only to find, to my shock, that it was missing.
I immediately rushed back to the church to report the situation. I spoke to the pastor, who prayed for me. He then travelled to South Africa, but before leaving, he advised me to report the theft to the police, which I did immediately.
At the police station, I was instructed by one of the officers to provide a picture of the stolen vehicle and include all the relevant details to help identify it. I returned to the station with all the relevant information they asked for, and they told me I needed to pay a fee for them to send out a signal to other police stations in the area to aid in the search for my car.
After filing the report, I continued checking in at the station every other day, but each time, the officers told me that they had yet to find my car.
What happened after?
By then, I had lost all hope of recovering my car. People even advised me to move on and forget about it. However, two years later, while still hoping the police might recover the vehicle, I spotted it parked at a roundabout. I was on my way to Sapele Road with a friend on that day.
I pointed it out and asked my friend if he thought it was my stolen vehicle. Out of curiosity, I also wondered if the police could steal someone’s car and use it for personal purposes. My friend couldn’t answer, but I became increasingly convinced it was my missing car.
On another occasion, I passed the same spot, this time with the vehicle’s particulars in hand. The car was still parked in the same place. I was certain then that the police were using it as a patrol vehicle. I immediately got out of the car I was in, asking the driver and passengers to continue their journey without me.
What happened after you alighted from the vehicle?
By the time I crossed the road and moved closer to where the car was parked, I saw all the stickers belonging to the church that I had left in the vehicle two years ago. They were all still in the car. I stood there, shocked and hit my forehead with my hand several times.
I asked onlookers to tell me who had parked the vehicle at that spot, and I was told it was the police. It turned out to be policemen from the same police station where I had reported that my car was missing. I was surprised that after making the report, they didn’t inform me that the vehicle had been recovered; instead, they converted it into a patrol vehicle.
I approached the police officers that I saw close to the vehicle and told them the vehicle was mine. One of them asked me for the vehicle’s documents, and I immediately handed them over. The plate number had been removed and placed in the trunk. The police officer who had requested the vehicle papers went to the trunk to cross-check the details on the document I gave to him.
When he discovered it was the same, he told me I would have to follow them to the station because the car was mine. A woman, who stood by and listened to our conversation advised me against following them, warning that something could happen to me. I called my son and told him about the situation, and he went to the station, thinking I was there.
It was the next day that I went to the station, but was told that their boss was not around. On the third day, I met the Divisional Crime Officer, who had just moved in from Abuja. He attended to me and my son.
I told him all that had transpired, and he took us to their top boss, who confirmed that his men actually recovered the vehicle but had spent N115,000 to repair the vehicle and that I should pay that amount to retrieve it.
I was shocked because my car was in perfect condition before it went missing. I told them I didn’t have the money. The DCO pleaded with me. We left there and went home. I decided to take the matter to court.
How much did you pay the police to help you find the missing vehicle?
At the time the vehicle was stolen, it was a female that was the Investigating Police Officer at the station, but I cannot remember the exact amount I paid. It has been a long time, but I remember giving them money so they could send out signals to other police stations about my stolen car.
What is your occupation?
I’m a machine operator. I operate machines used to carry big pipes. But at the moment, I do not have a job. I am 62 years old.
What is the brand of your vehicle?
My car is a Volkswagen Jetta.
Did you eventually go to court?
Yes. On July 19, 2018, the court ruled in my favour and asked the police to pay me N10m. The lawyer who handled the case asked me to wait for some procedures. However, in February 2019, the lawyer told me that the police had filed an appeal, although they did not have any defence at that time. They just wanted to delay the case.
The case was then transferred to an Appeal Court in Asaba. My pastor took me to a senior pastor, who I pleaded with to assist me because I did not have the money to pursue the case. The senior pastor agreed to support me financially and asked that I reimburse him after I got what I wanted. The pastor took over the case and wrote a letter to the court.
In 2023, the Appeal Court fixed a date after my lawyer wrote to them, but the case was postponed three times, and from then until now, nothing has been done about it.
Why do you think the police appealed the case?
I have no idea. The car does not belong to them, and they do not have any reason to hold on to it.
What were you using the car for before it was stolen?
I used it as a taxi on a part-time basis because I did not have a job. I shuttled to several places to pick up passengers, and I also used it for personal trips.
How has the absence of the car affected you?
It has affected me greatly, and this is the 10th year since it went missing. As I speak to you now, my wife has moved out of the house because I had nothing left. Things became very difficult as I was no longer earning any income after the car was stolen. Like I said before, I was using the vehicle for a part-time taxi business.
What will be your next line of action since it is taking so long to recover your car?
The next line of action is what my pastor is doing now. I also want VeryDarkMan to get involved in the matter, as he has been helping a lot of people. As I speak with you now, I’ve just returned from church, and many people are commenting on the situation. So, I want people to help me with this matter because the police are taking advantage of and looking down on me. They believe that I don’t have anyone to help me and, therefore, want to oppress me over my property; they want to intimidate and frustrate me.
How did your family react to this development?
They are unhappy. There’s nothing they can do because they know this is just a case of oppression. Yes, the police are oppressing me. My lawyer has asked me to wait for the Appeal Court to fix a date because they haven’t set one for judgment yet.
Do you want the Inspector General of Police to intervene in this matter?
Yes, I don’t mind. I would truly appreciate any support or assistance at this point. It would mean a great deal to me. I’m open to any help, no matter how big or small. I don’t mind if the matter gets to the presidency, to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, so he can intervene. I need help.
What is your advice to the police, considering how the entire matter has panned out?
I don’t have any advice for the police because, from what they’ve done to me, I’ve seen that if you don’t have money or anyone to back you up in this country, they (police) will treat you poorly. I was disappointed in the police because I brought all the documents for that vehicle to them to help me recover my car.
The police clearance for that vehicle was done at that particular station. They never contacted me after the vehicle was found. Instead, they decided to convert and use it for their work. They used my car for raids and to transport criminals. I need help with this matter.
(punch)
