Police operatives in Lagos have arrested three suspected members of a notorious car-snatching syndicate and recovered five vehicles believed to have been stolen from different parts of the country.
The arrests followed what the Lagos State Police Command described as a painstaking intelligence-led investigation triggered by a report of a stolen Toyota Camry 2008 model.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, operatives deployed both technical and tactical intelligence to track the stolen vehicle, which was eventually recovered at the point of re-registration.
“The recovery of the stolen Toyota Camry 2008 model at the point of re-registration led to the unravelling and subsequent arrest of a criminal syndicate involved in vehicle theft,” Adebisi said in a statement on Thursday.
She disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate specialised in stealing vehicles within Lagos State and concealing or disposing of them in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate operates within Lagos State while concealing and disposing of stolen vehicles in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Ilorin, Kwara State,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson explained that operatives first traced and arrested one Segun Olawuwo, 58, in Ibadan, where another suspected stolen Toyota Corolla 2008 model was recovered from him.
“In the course of the investigation, operatives traced and arrested one Segun Olawuwo ‘m’, 58 years, in Ibadan, Oyo State, where another suspected stolen Toyota Corolla 2008 model was recovered from him,” Adebisi stated.
Further investigation and interrogation reportedly led detectives to Ilorin, Kwara State, where two additional suspects identified as Femi Afolabi, 53, and Sunday Ugbomudia, 53, were apprehended.
“Further investigation and interrogation led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate identified as Femi Afolabi ‘m’, 53 years, and Sunday Ugbomudia ‘m’, 53 years, in Ilorin, Kwara State,” the statement added.
Adebisi said operatives recovered one Toyota Camry 2008 model and one Toyota Corolla 2006 model from the suspects, both of which were identified as stolen vehicles.
“One Toyota Camry 2008 model and one Toyota Corolla 2006 model, both identified as stolen vehicles, were recovered from the suspects,” she said.
According to the police, the suspects’ arrest further led to the recovery of another stolen Toyota Camry 2012 model that had earlier been sold to an unsuspecting buyer in Ibadan.
“Their arrest further led to the recovery of another stolen Toyota Camry 2012 model earlier sold to an unsuspecting buyer in Ibadan,” Adebisi disclosed.
The police spokesperson stated that the suspects had confessed to participating in several car-snatching and robbery operations within and outside Lagos State.
“The suspects confessed to their involvement in a series of car-snatching and robbery operations within and outside Lagos State,” she said.
She added that efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and recover more vehicles linked to the syndicate.
“Efforts have been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover more stolen vehicles linked to the gang,” the statement noted.
Commending the operatives for the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, praised the officers for their professionalism and dedication to combating crime across the state.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commends the operatives for their professionalism, resilience, and commitment to tackling criminal activities across the State,” Adebisi stated.
The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies through its emergency lines to aid ongoing efforts against criminal activities.
