Four suspected members of a notorious car theft syndicate have been arrested by officers of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, with six stolen vehicles and more than N15 million in cash recovered.
Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the command, explained in a statement on Wednesday that the arrests and recoveries were made through coordinated operations between the Gwagwalada and Mabushi Divisions, as well as the command’s Scorpion Squadron.
He identified the suspects as an ex-convict, Dalhatu Bashiru; Nwadigo Emmanuel; Uchenna Kalu; and Alhaji Jazuli Adamu.
Adeh said Adamu, the alleged main recipient of the stolen vehicles, was traced to Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State where he was arrested with N15,280,000 allegedly meant for the purchase of another batch of stolen cars.
He stated that the FCT Police Command, based on credible intelligence information and supported by digital forensic reconstruction, arrested the four members of the car thieves syndicate.
The Jabi, Gwagwalada and Mabushi divisions recovered three stolen vehicles, while the command’s Scorpion Squad expanded the investigation, leading to the arrest of additional suspects, the recovery of four more 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 gray KIA Optima (2009 model), reg. No. RMY 88 AA; a gray Toyota Corolla – Gwagwalada Division; a gray Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 890 AA; an ash-colored Toyota Camry (light pencil), reg. No. APR 459 AE; and a black Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. 578AA.
According to Adeh, “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 Niger Republic.”
She, however, said Ibrahim is currently at large.
The statement confirmed that all suspects and recovered evidence are in police custody while investigations continue to locate other fleeing gang members.