Recovered stolen cars
Rivers State Police Command has dismantled a 12-member car-snatching syndicate accused of stealing over 22 vehicles across Nigeria.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed an intelligence-driven raid in several states.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko said the operation began in September 2024 after a Toyota Hiace bus was reported stolen in Port Harcourt.
Two suspects, aged 40 and 45, were arrested. They confessed to stealing the vehicle for N90,000 each, using hammers. Further investigations led to arrests in Kano and Akwa Ibom states.
The syndicate, coordinated by a suspect at large, operated in multiple states including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Kano, and Rivers.
She said tolen vehicles were smuggled and sold in Cameroon.
A 53-year-old suspect admitted receiving over N5 million in payments.
SP Iringe-Koko stated that all 12 suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
She said efforts are ongoing to arrest the syndicate’s leader and other suspects at large.
“These arrests underscore our resolve to make Rivers State a hostile environment for criminals to operate freely,” she said.
“These operations are part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and sustain public confidence in law enforcement.”
