Joy Anyim
Men of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested three members of a notorious car-snatching gang.
The gang who operate in the South-West and South-East regions of the country, were arrested after intelligence on their activities had filtered to the police unit.
Following months of tracking, a team of policemen, led by Supol Olademiju Adebimpe, stormed the hideout of the alleged ringleader at the Idimu area of Lagos State.
The 48-year-old gang leader, identified as Victor Umeh was arrested, and a Toyota Camry ‘Tiny Light’ with Registration Number EKY 784 DU, was recovered from the suspect.
Upon interrogation by the police team, the suspect confessed to be working with other gang members in the Southeastern part of the country.
Umeh later led the operatives to Orlu in Imo State, where 30-year-old Chidi Oledugbe, a receiver, was arrested with a Toyota Avalon car with Registration Number RRT 390 FF, a Toyota Camry ‘Tiny Light’ with Registration Number AGL 264 DQ, and an unregistered Toyota Sienna Bus all recovered from him.
The suspects confessed to be working with one Lateef Ibrahim who had since been arrested by the police.
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Ibrahim was alleged to be responsible for re-registering the stolen cars with fake custom papers and documents.
Confirming the arrest of the suspects, the Head of IRT in the South-West Annex, Lagos, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Philip Reininwa, said the suspects were all arrested between April 15 and May 2, 2019.
Reininnwa said, “Umeh confessed to have snatched the car recovered from him at Imo state. He mentioned Oledugbe as one of his gang members.
“Oledugbe was a criminal reciever. He buys the stolen cars from Umeh and his gang and also resells to unsuspecting members of the public. Umeh also led detectives to Imo state where Oledugbe was arrested and three vehicles recovered from him.
“Ibrahim’s role in the gang was to procure the registartion of the stolen cars. He does so with fake custom papers and documents at Oyingbo Licensing office in Lagos State.
“The suspects have made useful statements and are currently assisting the police in tracking other fleeing robbers for possible arrest and recovery of their snatched cars and their operational arms and ammunitions.”
Reininwa said the four recovered cars are currently packed at the South-West Lagos annex office.
He told journalists that further development on the case would be communicated subsequently.
