Not fewer than four suspected members of a notorious car-snatching ring have been arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, who also recovered six stolen vehicles and more than N15 million in cash.
The spokesperson for the command, Josephine Adeh, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the arrests were made through coordinated efforts by the Gwagwalada and Mabushi divisions alongside the command’s Scorpion Squad.
She identified the suspects as ex-convict Dalhatu Bashiru, Nwadigo Emmanuel, Uchenna Kalu and Alhaji Jazuli Adamu.
Adeh revealed that Adamu, allegedly the main receiver of the stolen vehicles, was tracked to Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, where he was apprehended with N15,280,000 said to be intended for the purchase of another batch of stolen cars.
She stated that the FCT Police Command, acting on credible intelligence and aided by digital forensic reconstruction, succeeded in arresting the four members of the syndicate.
Jabi, Gwagwalada and Mabushi divisions recovered three stolen vehicles, while the Scorpion Squad broadened the probe, leading to further arrests, the recovery of additional vehicles and the seizure of over N15 million in cash.
The recovered vehicles, according to Adeh, include: a black Toyota Prado SUV (2008 model), Reg. No. RSH 967 JJ; a grey KIA Optima (2009 model), Reg. No. RMY 88 AA; a grey Toyota Corolla – Gwagwalada Division; a grey Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 890 AA; an ash-coloured Toyota Camry (pencil-light), Reg. No. APR 459 AE; and a black Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. 578 AA.
According to her, “Preliminary investigations revealed that Adamu works closely with an accomplice, Alhaji Abdulkarim Ibrahim, a Nigerien national believed to be responsible for coordinating the resale of stolen vehicles in the Niger Republic.”
She added that Ibrahim is currently on the run.
The statement confirmed that all suspects and recovered exhibits are in police custody as investigations continue to trace other fleeing members of the gang.
