Saturday, May 10, 2025 - Detectives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a notorious four-man gang of a car snatching syndicate terrorising residents
The suspects, led by their ringleader, Afolabi Emmanuel,
were nabbed by the Tactical Intelligence Squad (TIS) unit of the command after
they allegedly stole a 2016 model Toyota Camry from the residence of one Mr
Amokun Victor in Oka-Akoko.
The gang, which had been on the wanted list of the police,
sold the vehicle through an accomplice in Ogori-Magongo, Kogi State.
Parading the suspects on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Akure,
the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, said the stolen car with a market
value of N12 million, was sold for a paltry N700,000.
“The suspect confessed to scaling the fence of the victim’s
compound, breaking into the apartment, carting away valuables and eventually
driving off with the vehicle,” Afolabi said.
He explained that further investigation by the police led to
the recovery of two more vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna worth N6 million,
which had been sold for N4 million.
According to the police chief, the gang was responsible for
a string of vehicle thefts across the 18 local government areas of the state.
He said the ringleader, Afolabi, is based in Lagos but
frequently in Akungba Akoko, where his father resides, alleging that it was
during his visit he identified potential targets before launching the theft
operations.
"These suspects have been a menace, instilling fear in
residents and dispossessing them of their hard-earned belongings," the CP
stated.
"Their arrest is a significant blow to the network of
criminals operating across state lines."
While urging vehicle owners to take precautions by
installing anti-theft devices such as pedal locks and trackers, Mr Afolabi said
the police had intensified efforts to track other fleeing members of the
syndicate as investigations continue.
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