Police arrest three suspected car snatchers, recover five stolen vehicles

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Police Force Lagos State Command has arrested three suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate and recovered five vehicles believed to have been stolen across different locations in the country.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the arrests followed an intelligence-led investigation into a reported case of vehicle theft.

According to the statement, operatives of the command recovered a stolen Toyota Camry 2008 model at the point of re-registration, leading to the exposure of the syndicate allegedly operating in Lagos State while concealing and disposing of stolen vehicles in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Ilorin, Kwara State.

The statement added that one of the suspects, Segun Olawuwo, 58, was arrested in Ibadan, where another suspected stolen Toyota Corolla 2008 model was recovered from him.

“Further investigation and interrogation led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate identified as Femi Afolabi, 53 years, and Sunday Ugbomudia, 53 years, in Ilorin, Kwara State,” the statement said.

Police said one Toyota Camry 2008 model and one Toyota Corolla 2006 model, both identified as stolen vehicles, were recovered from the suspects, while another stolen Toyota Camry 2012 model earlier sold to an unsuspecting buyer in Ibadan was also traced and recovered.

According to the statement, the suspects confessed to their involvement in a series of car-snatching and robbery operations within and outside Lagos State.

The command noted that efforts had been intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover more stolen vehicles linked to the gang.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their professionalism and commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide useful information to the police through the command’s emergency lines.