By Evelyn Usman
Olarewaju Fawehinmi quickly covered her face with her head gear on sighting journalists approaching. Simultaneously she burst into tears, prompting this reporter to ask what her mission with the police was. She was paraded along side four other suspected members of a syndicate said to be specialists in hijacking containers going in or coming out of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, by the Ports Authority Police Command.

Operatives from the command stormed her Yinka Ogunfile home in Ikorodu area of Lagos, where a total of 400 bags of cocoa were recovered from the yet to be completed building.

The goods according to the Ports Command Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mrs Omo-Bare Akindemowo were conveyed in a 20ft container with number plate XX 776 LSR which disappeared before reaching the Apapa ports , three weeks ago. The missing truck she said, was one of the six carrying cocoa to the ports for export. But apprehension set in after only five trucks instead of six which left Ikotun, arrived the port.

A written complaints was soon lodged with the Ports Criminal Investigation Department(CID), Apapa. The consignment was subsequently traced to the suspect’s uncompleted building.

Explaining how the truck was hijacked Akindemowo said “during interrogation, it was discovered that the said truck was hijacked at gun point by unknown uniform men at Oshodi, who whisked away the original driver alleging that he hit their boss’ car and that gave them the opportunity to divert the truck to Ikorodu where they carried out their dastardly act. Driver of the hijacked truck, the vehicle itself and the empty  containers were intercepted at Yede junction, Lagos/Ogun states boundary”.

Ringim: Police IG.

But still burying her face under her head tie, Mrs Olarewaju claimed to be oblivious of the fact that the goods were stolen, blaming her predicament on her gullibility. Her words: “I was on my own three weeks ago, precisely on January 31, 2011, when my friend (pointing to another woman paraded with her), called me on the phone to inform me she was coming over. She later came with a container and begged to offload the goods in my place, promising to come back for them  in three hours time.

At first, I hesitated , saying I had no warehouse. But after much plea and assurance that she would come and pack them , I allowed her. And that was my greatest undoing because as I was relaxing inside, I saw some strange faces who later turned out to be policemen. They conducted a search round the uncompleted building where they found the bags of cocoa and thereafter whisked me into their waiting van. It was later that I got to know that the goods were stolen”.

She recalled how she met her friend, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi at a social gathering. One thing, led to the other and they exchanged telephone numbers. “ I never knew I was inviting trouble to myself. Ask her, if she told me it was stolen. Ah! I am done. To think that I solely took a decision without the consent of my husband makes it worse because as I speak, he is in Abuja and if he hears of this, he may send me packing from the house. Please help tell the police that I know nothing about this. I am only a victim of circumstance. She simply played on my gilibiltiy”, she lamented.

But her friend Mrs Bolanle Ajayi, kept mute and when she eventually opened up, she  also denied knowing that the goods were stolen. She said: “I am a business woman and I usually buy auctioned goods at the ports On the day in question, one Mr Sule , popularly known as Baba Nike, called to say he had bags of cocoa. But I told him I did not deal in that . He requested I should get a buyer, promising to pay me for the trouble. But first, he said he needed a place he could off load the goods pending when we would get a buyer and my friend here came to mind. I even suggested that we would pay her at the end.

Immediately, I contacted one Baba Femi who wanted to buy them for N4Million. But he had barely arrived to see the goods when the policemen came from nowhere”.

The three other suspects including a 32-year-old man that drove the hijacked truck, the intended buyer and his driver also claimed to be unaware that the goods were stolen. They all blamed the prime suspect, Baba Femi who unfortunately was on the run.

The sum of N207,000 according to the Ports Authority Deputy Commissioner of Police, was recovered from the intended buyer while the recovered goods has been released to the owners on bond . Determined to arrest the fleeing prime suspect, the DC said that a handsome reward awaits whoever avails the Ports Command of information that could lead to his arrest.