A newly employed driver has allegedly absconded with his employer’s 2016 Toyota Camry just two days after getting the job, in an incident that ended with the vehicle being tracked to a hotel in Ifo, Ogun State.
The Ogun State Police Command said the driver, Waidi Olaide Kolawale, allegedly told his employer, an Indian national based at the Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos, that he wanted to take the vehicle to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a faulty tyre.
Instead, Kolawale allegedly drove away with the vehicle and failed to return.
The stolen Camry was subsequently electronically tracked to a hotel in Ifo, prompting the police to alert the Divisional Police Officer in the area. Operatives were deployed to the location, but Kolawale reportedly escaped after learning of the police operation.
His alleged accomplice, however, was arrested.
Police investigations reportedly uncovered another disturbing detail: Kolawale had allegedly taken the vehicle to a mechanic in an attempt to remove its catalytic converter. The mechanic reportedly refused to participate.
The incident has renewed concerns over cases involving newly employed drivers allegedly absconding with their employers’ vehicles shortly after gaining access to them.
In February 2026, a driver identified as Olunowo Olumide Ogunyemi allegedly disappeared with his employer’s high-end Lexus GX460 in Lekki, Lagos, three weeks after he was employed. He allegedly took advantage of his employer’s brief stop to visit a friend before driving away with the vehicle.
Ogunyemi was later tracked down by the police.
Similarly, in July 2026, the Ondo State Police Command arrested Adesola Ogunrotifa, 40, in Abuja after he allegedly absconded with his employer’s Hyundai saloon car.
Police said Ogunrotifa had dropped his employer at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Akure, for a church service before allegedly driving away with the vehicle.
The Ogun incident has once again highlighted the risks vehicle owners face when handing over valuable property and unrestricted access to newly employed drivers.
The police have advised vehicle owners and employers to carry out proper background checks, obtain guarantors and install reliable tracking devices, among other security measures.
The Command also urged members of the public to be careful about who they entrust with their vehicles, property and access to their homes or businesses.
While trust remains an important part of any employment relationship, the latest incidents show that trust without verification can come at a heavy cost.