By Tony Adibe
An officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Enugu Command, identified as one Sgt Iloh Solomon Chukwuebuka has been arrested by the police in Ebonyi State.
NewsBits learnt that Chukwuebuka, who hails from Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State was attached to FRSC Nsukka Unit where he was said to be allegedly involved in documentation and registration of stolen vehicles.
The Ebonyi Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, in a release, explained that the FRSC officer was arrested with a syndicate, which specialized in car stealing. According to Anyanwu, the principal suspect said that he gave Chukwuebuka three vehicles for documentation, which he did, adding that the police divisions in the state, especially within the Abakaliki city were inundated with cases of car theft.
The PPRO said that information available revealed a particular modus operandi in which women who parked their vehicles at the International Market, Kpirikpiri market, New Market (Ahia Ofuu), etc after buying stuffs, would come out to discover that their vehicles have been stolen.
Anyanwu said: “Right now, I am glad to inform you that the entire syndicate of criminals comprising the thieves, receivers and their other cohort have been burst with over ten vehicles recovered.”
He said that men of the AK Squad, co-opted operatives of Ebubeagu Security Outfit, arrested the kingpin of the gang, Chimezie Emeh, a 26-year-old man from Ndieze 1 Okpoto in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State on 31/08/2022.
He said: “This suspect specializes in stealing vehicles from the market squares in Abakaliki Metropolis. He disposes the vehicles mostly at Nsukka and other parts of Anambra and Enugu States. He uses a master key to smoothly open doors and ignitions of the vehicles”.
The suspects arrested included Chimezie Emeh, Anthony Joseph Osilame, Peter Ozioko Egbunike and Ifeanyi Okoro Emetu, according to Anyanwu, who gave names of other suspects as Longinus Obinna Idenyi, Ogbonnaya Neankwo, H. Mezie, Eze Joshue Nnabuike
The PPRO said that the vehicles recovered included Toyota Corolla LE, Toyota Camry 2.2 model, Toyota Camry (Tiny Light) and Toyota Sienna 2000 model, adding that others were Toyota Corolla DS, Toyota Camry Spider, and a yellow Toyota minibus without registration number.
According to Anyanwu, items recovered were one locally made single-barrelled Baretta Pistol, seven vehicle number plates, and a box of assorted fetish things suspected to be charms.
