Police Smash Car Theft Syndicate, Arrest 3 Suspects In Akwa Ibom

The Anti-Robbery operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have smashed an armed robbery syndicate specialising in disposing unsuspecting persons of their vehicles.

Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, who disclosed this to Journalists on Wednesday in Uyo, the state capital, said three suspects were apprehended at scrap sites behind the popular Mechanic Village, along Abak Road, while dismembering stolen vehicles.

John noted that most of the disappearing vehicles could not be traced because the criminals already have a ready market where the vehicles were butchered and the parts sold as scrap for willing buyers.

She said, “In a proactive operation targeting stolen vehicles and goods, operatives of the Command successfully apprehended three suspects at scrap dumps within Uyo metropolis.

“The operation was conducted in compliance with directives of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Baba Azare, regarding cases of stolen cars.

“At approximately 4:30pm, officers stormed a scrap dump yard located at Mechanic Village, Abak Road, Uyo. There, they arrested one suspect, Uzoma Uche, who was found dismembering a Peugeot 404 pick-up van,” the PPRO said.

He added that the vehicle lacked identifying particulars to lead officers to the victim from which it was stolen.

At another scrap metal dump, two additional male suspects, one Alhassan Haliru, 29, and Aminu Zailai, 30, were apprehended while attempting to sell a set of new spanners.

Upon their arrest and subsequent interrogation, both individuals confessed to stealing the spanners from a local tools shop.

The PPRO stated that investigations were ongoing on the cases.