Joy Anyim
The Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has smashed a two-man car snatching gang, led by one Bashir Isiaku, 34.
The gang is notorious for stealing cars especially from the car park of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), in Jos, Plateau State capital.
Isiaku and his accomplice, Aminu Yakubu, reportedly specialise in using customised Master Key, crafted out of screwdrivers, to open and start vehicles.
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Police investigations had showed that their choice of cars were the ones without special security features such as pedal or steering locks, and at least, 21 vehicles were been recovered from the gang.
Isiaku, a graduate of an indigenous Federal Polytechnic (name withheld), was arrested after painstaking efforts by operatives of the STS to hunt down the criminals.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who spoke on the arrest of the suspects, 13 criminal receivers were also in police net.
According to Mba, “The following criminal receivers have also been arrested: in Funtua – Rilwanu Garba, IbrahimIssssaIs Kabiru Aliyu, Sikiru Danjuma, Bashir Abba; in Sokoto – Dodo Danbello, Mudeen Adelera, Nasiru Bello, Hassan Bawa; in Kucheri – Magazine Garba; in Tsafe – Yushehu Abdullahi; in Gusau – Abdurazaq Adekoya; and in Marafa – Kabiru Aliyu.
“The recovered vehicles comprise two Opel Vectra, one Toyota Camry, one Honda CRV, two Toyota Carinae, seven Golf-3, one Toyota Corolla, six Honda Civic and one Toyota Avensis.
“The suspects claimed that they found it easy to steal in JUTH due to the lax security at JUTH premises.
“Police investigations reveal that their choice cars are Toyota products, Honda products, and Volkswagen, especially the Golf brand because these brand of cars are in high demand by criminal receivers, either in whole or in parts across the country and other neighboring countries.”
The police spokesperson urged members of the public whose car had been stolen round JUTH area, to come forward for possible identification of their vehicles.
He continued, “In the light of the above, members of the public whose cars were stolen between January 2019 and March 2020, within the premises of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) are advised to come forward for possible identification and recovery.
“Nigerians are equally enjoined to take extra measures to secure their cars by utilising special security features such as steering or pedal locks, tracking systems, etc.
“In the same vein, institutions and organisations are encouraged to enhance security and access control within their premises to minimise the possibility of theft and other mischief by criminals,” he said.
