How we apprehended car snatching syndicate - Police

Delta State Police Command has revealed how its detectives arrested a car snatching syndicate which specialized in the theft and sale of cars in parts of Delta and Rivers States.

According to a statement released Tuesday April 9 by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, on the 9^th of August, 2018, a Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. AG805LEH was robbed from its owner, one Bright Ngbeken (Male) at Ozoro Junction, Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area.

Following a tip off, the said vehicle was seen at a mechanic workshop on the 29^th of March, 2019, in Abraka. This made a team of detectives led by Sgt. Ikechukwu Obuseh, under the Command of the Divisional Police Officer Oleh, Csp. Na’illah Mo’d, to swing into action and apprehended the first buyer, one Abraham Dafe (male) who resides in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The statement explained that it was the Port Harcourt based Abraham Dafe that led the detectives to the alleged gang leader, one 33-year old Victor Nele (male) a native of Ogoni, residing at Elele, Rivers State.

According to the Police, even though the said Victor Nele denied being the actual robber, he reportedly admitted that he purchased two cars from a man called “General” from Omok in Rivers State, who is not a car dealer.

He also allegedly admitted that the plate number found on the vehicle recovered from him, a Light Brown Toyota Camry with “fake Reg. No UGH916NQ”, was discovered to belong to a RAV4 vehicle robbed from its owner, one Engineer Emomoh Akpovona at gun point.

As at the time of this report, the said Rav4 was yet to be recovered and the original plate number of the Toyota Camry also yet to be recovered.

Victor Nele, according to the Police had already prepared fake vehicle particulars with the robbed Rav 4 plate number in his own name with which he intended to sell the stolen Camry.

The suspect, Victor Nele later led the detectives to 31-year old Chima Emmanuel, who hails from Ahiazu Mbise, Imo State, but resides at Eguruta Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

Chima Emmanuel is a motor mechanic, but doubles as driver to the dealers on stolen vehicles as well as assists to confirm the state or condition of the stolen vehicles and how much to pay for the received stolen cars.

Though he denied being involved in car snatching and transacting any vehicle business with the purported ring leader, Victor Nele, Chima Emmanuel admitted seeking customers for people who want to sell their vehicles. He is also reported to be in the business of buying and selling of illegally acquired vehicles.

The Police added that one Adebayo Muideen, aged 32, who hails from Osun State, but resides at Rumudimaya in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has a car stand at Eguruta, Rivers State, which he shares with another of his partner, one 41-year old Melvin Otete (male) who hails from Delta State, but resides in Rumuhalu Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they carry out their shady deals of buying and selling of stolen/illegally acquired vehicles as well as prepare fake vehicle documents.

A black Toyota Corolla with Reg.No. UGE391BQ was allegedly recovered from Melvin Otete, suspected to have been stolen.

Investigation revealed that the said vehicle belong to Oceanic Insurance Group of Companies, but fake vehicle particulars was produced on demand without recourse to the original owner.

The Police stated that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed. 

×