The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a herbalist and 25 other suspects over car theft and other criminal activities across the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, while parading the suspects yesterday at the police headquarters, said the suspects are responsible for about 79 cars stolen from the state.
Disu revealed that one of the suspects, a herbalist, who prepared charms for the criminals before operations, was also apprehended and is helping in the investigation.
The CP said: “For some time now, we noticed that a lot of cars have been stolen and some robbed. So we tasked officers of our tactical team to investigate it. I am very happy to inform you that about 26 suspects specialised in stealing vehicles and robbing them have been arrested.”
He added that the police command’s greatest joy was the arrest of Chidozie Onyekwe, leader of the gang, and Kelechi Uzogwe, a mechanic who specialises in removing trackers from stolen cars.
“Chidozie is the leader of persons who come into Rivers State to steal cars. Not only does he come in here, he trains personnel.
“He is linked to all the suspects who have been arrested at one time or the other for this same offence of stealing cars.
“At the same time, Kelechi Uzogwe is an expert in removing trackers in vehicles. Almost all the vehicles stolen from Rivers State must pass through Kelechi to remove the trackers. He is also a wonderful mechanic.
“Most of these cars stolen were taken to Anambra and Kano State and some of them find their way out of the country. The cars were taken to ‘Mmbuka’ in Obosi, Onitsha, where they are dismembered in pieces and sold as scraps.
“In total, 79 vehicles have been linked to all these suspects paraded here. Most of the suspects met themselves while they were in the Correctional Centre, and about five of them are ex-convicts,” he said.
The Police boss further disclosed that several firearms have been recovered, alongside several spare keys used in moving the stolen vehicles.