The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested six suspected members of a notorious interstate car-snatching syndicate operating across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi and Plateau states. The arrests followed a directive by the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordering a crackdown on rising cases of vehicle theft.
Operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad carried out the operation based on intelligence reports and apprehended the suspects identified as Hassan Bukar, Adam Musa also known as Yellow, Ibrahim Haruna alias Biggie, Adamu Mohammed, Sahal Abdullahi Aliyu and Abubakar Yusuf, while other members of the gang are still on the run.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate allegedly specialized in stealing vehicles and selling them to scrap dealers and spare parts merchants, who dismantled the vehicles to erase traces and resell the parts. Security operatives also uncovered financial transactions linked to the illegal deals through cash and Point-of-Sale transfers.
Commander of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Commandant A.S. Dandaura, disclosed that five shops at the Zuba Scrap Market were sealed during the operation. He added that a dismantled Toyota Camry sold for one point one five million naira was recovered as evidence.
The NSCDC says one suspect, Hassan Bukar, allegedly confessed to involvement in the theft of more than one hundred and sixty vehicles since 2014, acting as a middleman between thieves and buyers.
Another suspect identified as Matthew Atsenga Aondongu from Benue State is currently at large and believed to be supplying stolen vehicles to the syndicate.
Recovered exhibits include five vehicles, eight vehicle documents and sixty-one vehicle number plates.
The recovered vehicles include Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord models believed to have been stolen from different locations across the country.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NSCDC operatives attached to the BUA International Cement Factory in Okpella arrested four suspects for alleged theft, vandalism and conspiracy. Two factory workers were caught with stolen hydraulic fluid, while two others were arrested for vandalizing and selling installed cables within the factory premises. The NSCDC says all suspects will be charged to court as investigations continue.
Reporting By Yemisi Dada