‘Prince’ arrested for stealing chemicals worth N16 million

A 53-year-old man is in police custody for allegedly stealing industrial chemicals worth over N16 million.

Ahmed Mao Bidia,

who claims to be a prince of the Ijora Bidia clan, was arrested on

September 24 at Ajao estate by police officers from the Ajao police

station who acted on a tip-off.

Police deputy

spokesperson Chris Onyeisi while parading the suspect at the Oduduwa

police station on Tuesday said the suspect belongs to a group which has

been breaking into warehouses at Ajao estate regularly.

“We have been

receiving complaints from owners of warehouses at Ajao estate that

their warehouses are being burgled. On Friday last week, officers from

the Ajao police station got a tip-off that some men were moving

industrial chemicals from OCTOPOL Nigeria Ltd. The suspects later moved

the chemicals into two vehicles to an underdeveloped plot, with the

name OAKLAND Ltd. They left the chemicals in the compound of this

company until the next day.”

Mr. Onyeisi said the police arrested one suspect and recovered 1000 bags of the industrial chemicals.

“The officers laid

surveillance of the area all through the night and by morning; one

Alhaji Mao was arrested at Lateef Salami Street. He made useful

statement which led us to the real owner of the chemicals. The

chemicals belong to OCTOPOL Nigeria Ltd. The company identified the

chemicals as Nalco and Salatons used in beer brewery. The other members

of his gang are still at large but we are on their trail.”

Mr. Mao, a father

of two, has denied the allegations. He said he was only anxious to make

quick money and he did not know that the chemicals were stolen.

“I am not a thief

and I did not know that these chemicals were stolen. I was relaxing in

my house at number 11 Ajani Street Ilasa on Friday morning when one man

called Alhaji Isa came to me that he has some chemicals to sell. I went

with him to the estate and we saw the chemicals, but these were not the

type of chemicals that I deal in. I decided to call one of my friends

called Obachem to come and buy the chemicals.

“My friend was

interested so we decided to get a buyer. The people were ready to sell

a bag of the chemical for N1,400 against the market price which is

N5000. I saw that it was a good business and that was why I decided to

do it. I do not know that the chemical are stolen goods. I have been

selling chemicals for more than 10 years and the name of my company is

MAO Chemicals. This situation is very embarrassing considering the fact

that I am a prince in my clan. I am from the Ijora-Badiya clan from the

Apapa-Iganmu Local Government of Lagos State and I can never belong to

this syndicate.”

Mr. Onyeisi said the suspect will be charged to court soon.