Lagos Police arrest suspected car theft syndicate members, recover five stolen vehicles

Crime Diary

IKEJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its crackdown on vehicle theft and robbery with the arrest of suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate and the recovery of five stolen vehicles linked to the gang.

According to the police, the arrests followed a report of a stolen Toyota Camry 2008 model, which triggered a painstaking intelligence-led investigation by operatives of the command.

Through technical and tactical intelligence, the stolen vehicle was traced and recovered at the point of re-registration, leading investigators to uncover a criminal network allegedly involved in stealing and trafficking vehicles across states.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate operated mainly within Lagos State while concealing and disposing of stolen vehicles in Ibadan and Ilorin. During the operation, police operatives arrested one Segun Olawuwo, 58, in Ibadan, where another suspected stolen Toyota Corolla 2008 model was recovered from him.

Further investigations led to the arrest of two additional suspects identified as Femi Afolabi, 53, and Sunday Ugbomudia, 53, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Police said one Toyota Camry 2008 model and one Toyota Corolla 2006 model, both suspected to have been stolen, were recovered from the suspects.

The arrests also led to the recovery of another stolen Toyota Camry 2012 model, which had reportedly been sold to an unsuspecting buyer in Ibadan.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Abimbola Adebisi, the suspects reportedly confessed to involvement in multiple car-snatching and robbery operations within and outside Lagos State.

The police added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen vehicles connected to the criminal network.

The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their professionalism, resilience and commitment in tackling criminal activities across the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing useful information to security agencies to support ongoing crime-fighting efforts.