Four suspected members of a tricycle theft syndicate have been arrested by the Delta State Police Command.
The Police recovered six stolen mobile phones from various victims.
Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, shared a video via his X handle on Tuesday, February 4, explaining the suspects’ tactics.
Some of them posed as passengers, using distractions—such as fake coughing—to steal phones before pushing victims out of the tricycle.
One victim recounted his experience: “On the first, Saturday, I boarded a Keke going to Government House. I met two guys inside the Keke, including the Keke rider making them three. One of them started coughing, I was asking him what happened, not knowing he was trying to remove my phone. When I got to where I wanted to stop, I checked inside my pocket and couldn’t find my phone.”
Another victim, a female, shared a similar ordeal: “I was on my way to FMC, this is the Keke rider, this other one was the one coughing. When this one started coughing, he started pouring saliva on me, I was trying to ask him what was going on and what he was doing, he didn’t answer, he just continued.
“When I noticed my phone was missing was when he was coughing and put his mouth outside, that was when he picked my phone. They told me to come down from the Keke and pushed me.”
Speaking in Pidgin English, one of the suspects identified as Emeka said: “My name is Emeka, he is my Keke guy, If I see him loading I’ll enter his keke. If I see that you’re with a phone, I’ll pretend to cough and collect it. We started last year, I’ve sold three phones to the guy and four phones to the lady. I feel bad and would advise Keke passengers to hold their phones in their hands.”
In his caption for the video, Edafe said the tricycle thieves “can even remove” a needle “from your pocket without you knowing.”
See Video Below;
Ever heard of the tricycle thieves? They can even remove a niddle from your pocket without you knowing. After their arrest, they advised potential tricycle passengers. Pls, watch till the end. pic.twitter.com/QCXCMdDEU0
— SP. Bright Edafe (@Brightgoldenboy) February 4, 2025
