By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lagos State Police Command public relations officer, SP Dolapo Badmos said the woman who gave police a false lead and a false alarm to pursue a family of six for car theft at Ogudu, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

Badmos said the woman will be prosecuted.

The false alarm raised by the woman identified as Lauretta Ehon nearly led the police to wipe out a family of six, but for the uncommon police wisdom displayed by Police Inspector, Christian Onawona.

Onawona is attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command.

Lauretta Ehon, had run to inform RRS operatives patrolling the axis at about 17:30 hrs over the weekend, that some armed robbers just snatched her Toyota Camry car 2012 model.

Immediately, the police officer followed her to give the supposed fleeing robbers a chase.

On the trail of the alleged robbers, the police ran into a hectic traffic but in order to catch up with the thieves, the officer alighted from his official vehicle and mounted a motor bike to chase them.

Meanwhile , the occupants of the car, which was being chased never had an inkling that they were on the verge of being mistaken for robbery suspects and that the police were on their trail.

In order to prevent the robbers from taking the vehicle with registration EP 932 KRD away, the officer shot into the air, upon getting to them.

Upon hearing the gunshot fired by the officer, the driver of the vehicle applied the brake instantly.

Then, the police officer cautiously approached the supposedly stolen vehicle only to discover that the occupants were three female, one male and two children.

At this point, the police officer suspected that the complainant raised a false alarm.

The occupants of the vehicle were, Sekinat Sanni, Wasiu Balogun, Bisola Balogun and Rukayat Joseph. The children were, Sameer Balogun, one year old and Motunrayo Joseph, two years old, all members of the same family going on social outing.

Lauretta Ehon story was confirmed a mere fabrication.

What really transpired between the woman that raised the false alarm and the owner of the 2012 Camry car was a mere business transaction which occurred about six years ago.

The husband to the false alarmist and the owner of the car transacted a business which had to do with clearing of a used car from overseas.

Unfortunately, the vehicle went into demurrage after the client, Mr Ehon paid the clearing agent, Mr Balogun. And between the duo, they had settled the matter amicably for both of them worked in the same company in Apapa.

But to his wife, she vowed to collect the demurrage charges from the clearing agent whenever she set eyes on him.

On the day of incident, the woman had threatened to deal with the man.

Unknown to her however, the man was not inside the car when she set the police after his car.

In her reaction, one of the lucky occupants of the car, Bisola Balogun, who was visibly elated said that she was full of praises to the officer who pursued them for not using his firearm.

“In fact, I am still at shock. If it were to be another police officer, it is possible that he might shoot our car and anything could have happened. We thank God and appreciate the officer for applying uncommon wisdom in handling the matter”, she added.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, the police officer showed experience and bravery in handling the issue, if not for him, the entire event could have turned against the police.