A man pretending to be a military officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing a motorbike from an okada rider at Kadjebi in the Oti Region.
The suspect, known only as Roy, reportedly tricked the 24-year-old rider, Manasseh Tomey, into believing he was a soldier. According to Tomey, the man, dressed in military-style clothes, hired him on Monday morning around 10 a.m. to take him to buy waakye at Kadjebi Zongo.
After the meal, Roy asked to be dropped off at Wobube Guest House near the Kadjebi Cocoa Market and requested Tomey’s number. Later that afternoon, around 4 p.m., he called again, asking the rider to buy him water and then to lend him the motorbike to deliver an item to the Okanta Police barrier.
Tomey, trusting him, handed over the bike, but the supposed soldier vanished. His calls went unanswered, and when he rushed to the police barrier, officers said no one matching the description had passed.
He quickly alerted other police posts, leading to a tip-off hours later. Around 9 p.m., officers at the Ve-Golokuati Police barrier informed Tomey that the suspect had been caught. Upon arrival, he confirmed that Roy was indeed the one who had made off with his motorbike.
Inspector Emmanuel Agbeworley, the Station Officer in charge of the Kadjebi Police Station, confirmed the arrest and said the suspect has since been transferred and arraigned before court.
