The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DCP Frank Mba, says the police have arrested a 34-year-old leader of a car-stealing syndicate and recovered no fewer than 21 cars of different makes.
Mba, in a statement on Tuesday, Bashir Isiaku, a graduate of one of the Federal Polytechnics, and one Aminu Yakubu were notorious for stealing cars from the car park of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
The police image-maker said the Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) arrested the two-man gang after painstaking efforts and investigations.
The Police said the duo specialized in using the customized master key, crafted out of screwdriver to open and start vehicles.
Police investigations showed that the criminals’ choices of cars were ones without special security features such as pedal or steering locks, the statement reveals.
He disclosed that a total of twenty-one 21 vehicles have so far been recovered from the hoodlums and their criminal receivers.
“The following criminal receivers have also been arrested: in Funtua – Rilwanu Garba, Ibrahim Hassan, Kabiru Aliyu, Sikiru Danjuma, Bashir Abba; in Sokoto – Dodo Danbello, Mudeen Adelera, Nasiru Bello, Hassan Bawa; in Kucheri – Magazine Garba; in Tsafe – Yushehu Abdullahi; in Gusau – Abdurazaq Adekoya; and in Marafa – Kabiru Aliyu,” the statement read.
“The recovered vehicles comprise 2 Opel Vectra, 1 Toyota Camry, 1 Honda CRV, 2 Toyota Carinae, 7 Golf-3, 1 Toyota Corolla, 6 Honda Civic and 1 Toyota Avensis. The suspects claimed that they found it easy to steal in JUTH due to the lax security at JUTH premises. Police investigations reveal that their choice cars are Toyota products, Honda products, and Volkswagen especially the Golf brand because these brand of cars are in high demand by criminal receivers, either in whole or in parts across the country and other neighboring countries.
“In the light of the above, members of the public whose cars were stolen between January 2019 and March 2020, within the premises of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) are advised to come forward for possible identification and recovery. Nigerians are equally enjoined to take extra measures to secure their cars by utilizing special security features such as steering or pedal locks, tracking systems, etc. In the same vein, institutions and organizations are encouraged to enhance security and access control within their premises to minimize the possibility of theft and other mischief by criminals.
“Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, mni assures Nigerians of the continued commitment of the Force to the protection of lives and property and rid the country of crime and criminality especially during this lockdown period.“
