by Zara Mustapha

An alleged motorcycle thief, Rabiu Akande whose style was to drug his victims before taking away their bikes has been caught by the police in Oyo state while attempting to steal again.

Akande was caught when one of the his former victim, Tajudeen Kayode who lost a motorcycle to the suspect on December 19, 2013, coincidentally fell into Akande’s hands again on March 10, but played along with the suspect in order to nab him.

It was revealed that the suspect had boarded Kayode’s motorcycle at Ojoo area of Ibadan at about 7p.m. and told the Okada man to take him to U.I. area.

Nigerian Tribune reports:

Kayode recognised him immediately when the man told him to stop at a nearby beer parlour for some enjoyment.

Taking an excuse from the suspect, the bike man quickly called his brother and friends to alert them. He was however told to play along with the man while they decided to move to the area to keep watch. At a point, Akande asked the bike man to buy him some sticks of cigarette. Before he returned, the suspect had purchased a bottle of Viju milk drink which he laced with drugs, unknown to him the action was noticed by Kayode.

When Kayode  informed his friends, they advised him to take the drink. Immediately he took it, the suspect reportedly told him to take him to his girlfriend’s place. This, he did, it was learnt, so that the drug would not start taking effect at the beer parlour.

By the time he saw that the bike man was feeling drowsy, the suspect was said to have told him to stop so that he would make a call. As the biker was falling asleep where he parked, Akande gently carried him, laid him down, and took over the motorcycle. As he made to go, he was surrounded by Kayode’s friends who called the police from Sango Division. But before the police came over, a mob which gathered was said to have descended on the suspect, dealing him several blows.

When Crime Reports spoke with Akande (33) who said he hailed from Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, he confessed to the crime, saying that his action was spiritually-controlled by his enemies.

“I reside at Isheri-Olowoira in Lagos State but used to come to Ibadan for robbery from time to time. I also sell clothes, wrist watches and shoes that I buy from Okey Street, Oluwole, Lagos State. I don’t have a shop. I have a vocation as an electrical works artisan but I face a lot of spiritual problems which push me into crime. My father had many wives and was rich and my mother was the first wife.

“I was arrested after I drugged a commercial cyclist and collected his motorcycle. The motorcycle was found with me. It is true I first robbed him of a motorcycle on December 19, 2013. After that, I got an electrical works contract which fetched me good money. After spending the money, I decided to come to Ibadan again to steal a motorcycle before I would secure another contract. That was prompted my coming to Ibadan on March 10.

“I did not sell the first bike I took from him. I gave it to one boy to ride for commercial purpose but incidentally, the boy said the okada was stolen from where he parked it. That was its end.”

He disclosed his modus operandi: “My method was putting five Valium 5 tablets in a bottle of Viju milk. I would mix the Viju milk with beer and would in the process drop the tablets in his drink without him knowing. I believe a spell was cast on me to misbehave. If I am pardoned, I will look for a traditional priest to pray for me and wash the spell off me. If it is a pastor that is ready to deliver me, I am ready.”

The story was confirmed by the police image maker in Oyo State, Mrs Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, when contacted, as she said the suspect had been charged to court.