The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested four alleged car-stealing syndicate, recovered four vehicles suspected to have been stolen and seized numerous car keys from them.
A statement on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspects were arrested between March 3 and 9, 2024.
Ndukwe, who gave the names of the suspects as Anioko Chukwujekwu aged 32, Ugochukwu Okoh aged 41, Nkemdi Idah aged 65, and Nwoke Sunday aged 57, disclosed that they were following an operational surveillance mounted by operatives attached to the Uwani Police Division after receiving several reports of car stealing within the Kenyetta Market axis in Uwani, Enugu South local government area of the state.
According to the statement, Chukwujekwu, the syndicate’s kingpin, was arrested on March 3, 2024, at about noon while attempting to steal a car from where it was parked at the market.
Upon thorough search, numerous car keys were recovered from him.
The Command’s spokesperson said that during a preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime, while his confessional statements led to the further arrest of three (3) more suspects in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, who are his conspirators, receivers, and sellers of the stolen vehicles.
“They include Ugochukwu Okoh aged 41 and Nkemdi Idah aged 65, arrested on March 7, 2024, and Nwoke Sunday aged 57, arrested on March 9, 2024.
“A total of four different models of Mercedes-Benz cars, comprising two 190 E (respectively ash-coloured with Reg. No. SKA 292 AA and red-coloured without Reg. No.), one blue-coloured C-Class with Reg. No. AGL 512 EY, and black-coloured 230 E (V-Boot) with Reg. No. CHR 50 AE, were recovered from them.”
Ndukwe, however, said that the suspects will be arraigned in court and prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu according to a statement has reiterated the Command’s readiness to purge the State of unrepentant criminals and their activities.
The CP was quoted to have enjoined residents of the State to continue to be law-abiding, security-conscious, and quickly report suspected criminals to the nearest Police Station, or call 08086671202 or 08098880102.
