A car snatching syndicate who specialises in snatching exotic cars has been nabbed by the Anambra state Command.

The 11 exotic cars recovered from the gang, which is said to be operating in various parts of the state includes a Lexus jeep, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz Jeep, among others.

Addressing journalists after parading eleven suspects already arrested by the police at the state police command on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of police, Mr. Garba Umar, said the command had redoubled its efforts in protecting the lives and property in the state, following increasing car theft incidents in the area.

He said that one Christian Ojechi of Abor village, Ogidi in Idemili North local government area reported that armed men operating with about four motorcycles snatched from him, a Mercedes Benz SUV model 350 with Registration No LAGOS FST 141 FB when he stopped to buy something in a shop along Abatete road by Ogidi Boys Secondary School Ogidi.

He explained that in the course of investigation, a resident of Ghana, Monday Odi, 35, and five others, Monday Chita, 28, of School of Health Technology, Obosi, Somtochukwu Ani, 30, of Nkwelle village Ogidi, David Akoi, 30, of Abor village, Umusiome Nkpor and Sunday Nwafor, 30, also of School of Health Technology, Obosi were arrested.

Others arrested for the same offence were Chibuike Ugwu, Chibueze Ebenyi of Usho village, Ondo State, who was said to be the sponsor of the gang, and an alfa.

The CP further said that another stolen Lexus SUV was recovered from one Rasheed Abudulazez of NO 505 Durumi Area 1, Garki, Abuja, while stressing that investigation was still ongoing to arrest other members of the gang still at large. The CP added that another stolen Lexus SUV was recovered from one Mr. Rasheed Abdulazeez of No. 505, Durumi Area 1, Garki, Abuja.

On other cases of stolen vehicle investigated, Umar said: “The police investigated the case of one Omairu Yovina Dagahagba of Oghara town in Delta State, who reported that four armed men invaded his flat with guns and cutlasses, and robbed him of his Lexus jeep 330 with Registration No LNB 575 DR and other valuable household property.

“The vehicle was tracked and recovered at Omife 33, Onitsha along with two other suspected stolen vehicles.

“Two suspects namely, Azuka Uduji and Ikechukwu Ephraim of 23 Amueheazi Street, 33, Onitsha, were also arrested in connection with the robbery and exhibits recovered from them were a black Toyota Corolla 2017 model, with Registration No AWK 827 KE and an unregistered dark blue Toyota Corolla.

“Other recovered vehicles include Lexus SUV with Registration No. ABS 242 SQ, re-registered as LAGOS BDG 892, one Mercedes Benz with Registration No. LAGOS FST 141 FB SUV, re-registered as Abuja RSH 999 TB and one Toyota Corolla with Registration No. JJJ 493 KC.”

He further said the wife of the principal suspect now at large and the recovered vehicles had been transferred to the Delta State Police Command for further interrogation.

According to him, the suspects confessed to have played various criminal roles for the gang and also confessed robbing one Ikechukwu Christian Ujechi of his Mercedes Benz SUV 350 with Registration No. FST 141 FB at gunpoint.

The CP noted that the investigation took detectives to Ondo State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command where the stolen Mercedes Benz SUV was eventually found adding that at the time the car was recovered from one Michael Amodu of Plot 347 AA1 extension, Abuja, the car had been re-registered as Abuja RSH 999 TB.

He said that on completion of investigations, that all the suspects would be arraigned in court.

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