The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested three suspected vehicle-parts thieves accused of targeting stationary vehicles and stealing brain-boxes and other vital components after they were allegedly caught in the act at the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in Oshodi.
The suspects, identified as Kazzim Iyiola, aka Sabela, 46; Mohammed Rabiu; and Alhaji Musa Saleh, 56, were apprehended while allegedly attempting to remove the brain-box from a Toyota Hilux operational vehicle belonging to the VIO.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, Press and Public Affairs of the Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, a fourth suspect, identified simply as Tony, a motor-parts dealer who allegedly received stolen vehicle components, was said to be at large.
Abdulraheem said the arrests followed surveillance initiated by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) after repeated complaints from sister agencies operating within the Safety Arena over the disappearance of vehicle parts from parked vehicles.
The stolen items allegedly included batteries, spare tyres, jacks and other essential vehicle components.
According to the spokesman, the Chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said the suspects were tracked following complaints from management and staff of agencies operating within the area.
“I received complaints from top management and staff alleging that men posing as motor mechanics were disappearing with vehicle parts. I immediately put strategies in place to track them down,” Akerele said.
According to the statement, preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects allegedly targeted vehicles that remained stationary for several hours in garages and compounds.
One of the suspects, Kazzim, reportedly admitted that the gang had stolen several vehicle parts, particularly brain-boxes, in the past. He allegedly disclosed that brain-boxes removed from vehicles within the same vicinity in September last year were sold to Tony for N70,000.
“We mostly target stationary vehicles. On a good day, we remove two to three brain-boxes. Occasionally, we also target vehicles parked at owners’ risk,” Kazzim reportedly said.
The other two suspects initially claimed to have previously worked together as a driver and mechanic at Marine Beach and were subsequently involved in the sale of iron scraps.
However, they reportedly became jittery when asked to provide evidence of their alleged scrap-metal business transactions, after which Kazzim allegedly implicated Mohammed and Musa in the criminal activities.
The Taskforce said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ activities and track down other individuals allegedly connected to the syndicate.
Akerele assured that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, warning that the arrests should serve as a deterrent to individuals involved in the theft and resale of vehicle components.
In the statement, Abdulraheem quoted Akerele as warning that the Taskforce would not relent in its efforts to protect vehicles and their owners from criminal elements specialising in the theft of brain-boxes, batteries, tyres, jacks, trafficators, lights and other vital vehicle components.
“I urge members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activities through our official feedback channels for prompt action. There is no room for criminality in Lagos State,” Akerele said.
The Taskforce urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around parked vehicles and other locations to the appropriate authorities for prompt intervention.
