Rivers Police Dismantle Interstate Car Snatching Syndicate

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command, in a major intelligence-led operation have dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across multiple states in Nigeria, leading to the recovering of 22 stolen vehicles and arrest of 12 suspects.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the case began in September 2024 after a report by one Mr. Enoch Daniel, who was dispossessed of his Toyota Hiace bus at Trailer Park at Onne.

Iringe-Koko stated that following the report, the Command’s C4i Strike-Force/Octopus team, launched investigations, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as John Amadi, 40 years from Ogu/Bolo local government area and Nna Goodluck, 45 years, from Khana LGA, all in Rivers State.

The Rivers Police spokesperson further stated that the two suspects, who were ex-convicts, confessed that they were hired by one Godspower Okpa to snatch the vehicle and were paid ₦90,000 each.

The PPRO said further investigations extended to Oyigbo in Rivers State as well as Kano and Akwa Ibom states, resulted in the arrest of key members of the syndicate.

She named the key suspects to include Yakubu Abdullah ‘m’ 35 years, who was apprehended in Oyigbo; Abdulkareem Saminu ‘m’ 35 years, who was caught with two stolen vehicles and Adamu Musa, ‘m’, a dismissed Police Officer from Akwa Ibom, who was in possession of 11 vehicles.

The police spokesperson added, “The syndicate is coordinated by Falco Ibrahim ‘m’ currently at large, whose network spans Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Enugu, Borno, Kano, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States.

“Vehicles were smuggled via his agent, Shehu Shagari ‘m’ now in custody, and sold in Cameroon either whole or as parts.”

She listed other arrested members of the syndicate as Onyekachi Igwe ‘m’ 53 years, an ex-convict and Port Harcourt liaison, who confessed to earning over ₦5 million in eight months.

Others include 35-year-old Ikechukwu Joseph and Michael Emerenwa, 40 years, who were both auto-electricians, who modified vehicles for export

“Others are Elijah Nwauwa Sunday ‘m’ 45 years, a self-styled pastor from Owerri, Imo State, who fronted as a spiritual leader while acting as the syndicate’s broker at Mgbuka-Obosi car scrap market, Onitsha, Samuel Ejigbo ‘m’ 39 years from Kogi State, an ex-convict and field operator in Port Harcourt and Umar Jabbo ‘m’ 25 years from Taraba State, caught attempting to purchase a stolen Toyota Camry,” she said.

Police said these arrests underscored the resolve to make Rivers State hostile to criminal syndicates.

“We call on residents to remain vigilant and support the Police with credible information,” the PPRO said.

She added that all suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, while efforts continue to arrest the ringleader and other fleeing accomplices.