Delta Police Bust Car Snatching Ring, Arrest Notorious Leader, Others

The Delta State Police Command say it have arrested a syndicate of car snatchers and dealers on stolen vehicles in keeping fate with its pledge to rid the Command of all forms of crimes and criminalities.

The command public relations officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya in a statement obtained by BIGPEN ONLINE on Tuesday, said that the suspects were arrested following tips off at different locations within Delta and River States.

Quoting the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke, the PPRO said the arrest was a demonstration of the Command’s determined efforts to rid the State of all forms of crimes and criminalities, noting that the suspects will be charged to court soonest as soon as investigation is completed.

He further said that these are warning signals to criminals in the State that there is no safe haven for them, saying they should either quit crime or flee the Command, while assuring Deltans of his commitment to their safety and security at all times.

Giving a graphic details of the arrest, Onovwakpoyeya said, “on the 9/08/2018, a Toyota Camry car with reg No. AG805LEH was robbed from its owner, one bright Ngbeken “M” at Ozoro junction Oleh at gun point.

On the 29/03/2019, following a tip off, that the said vehicle was seen at a mechanic workshop in Abraka town, a team of detectives led by Sgt. Ikechukwu Obuseh, under the Command of the Divisional Police Officer Oleh, Csp. Na’illah Mo’d swung into action, apprehended the first buyer one Abraham Dafe “M” residing in Port Harcourt who led the detectives to the ring leader of the gang, one Victor Nele “M” aged 33years, a native of Ogoni, residing at Elele Rivers State, who though denied being the actual robber but admitted he purchased two cars from a man called “General” from Omok in Rivers State, who is not a car dealer.

He also admitted that the plate number found on the vehicle recovered from him, a light brown Toyota Camry with fake  Reg.No UGH916NQ, was discovered to belong to a  RAV4 vehicle robbed from its owner one Engineer Emomoh Akpovona at gun point. The said Rav4 is yet to be recovered andthe original plate number of the Toyota Camry yet to be recovered also.

The said suspect Victor Nele, had already prepared a fake vehicle particulars with the robbed Rav 4 plate number in his own name with which to sell the said suspected stolen Camry.

The suspect Victor Nele led the detectives to Chima Emmanuel “M” aged 31years who hails from Ahiazu Mbise, Imo State but resides at Eguruta Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

He is a motor mechanic but doubles as driver to the dealers on stolen vehicles and as well assists to confirm the state or condition of the stolen vehicles and how much to pay for the received stolen cars.

Though he denied being involved in car snatching and transacting any vehicle business with the ring leader Victor Nele but admitted seeking customers for people who want to sell their vehicles. He is also into buying and selling of illegally acquired vehicles.

Adebayo Muideen “M” aged 32years, hails from Osun State but resides at Rumudimaya in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has a car stand at Eguruta, Rivers State which he shares with another of his partner one Melvin Otete “M” aged 41years, hails from Delta State but resides in Rumuhalu Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they carry out their shady deals of buying and selling of stolen/illegally acquired vehicle, prepare fake vehicle document for vehicles.

A black Toyota Corolla with  Reg.No. UGE391BQ was recovered from Melvin Otete suspected to have been stolen.

Investigation revealed that the said vehicle belong to Oceanic Insurance group of Companies but a fake vehicle particulars was produced on demand without recourse to the original owner”.