Police arrest notorious car snatchers in Abuja

Operatives from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have apprehended three individuals involved in car snatching and robbery within the nation’s capital and its surroundings. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ben Igweh, disclosed the arrests on Thursday, February 29, while parading the suspects.

According to CP Ben Igweh, on February 16 at approximately 3:00 pm, FCT Police Command operatives, acting on credible intelligence, detained three well-known and sought-after car snatchers. The suspects were identified as David Junior Godwin, a male from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, and the gang leader; Paul Taju, a male from Gwagwalada, Abuja; and Ali Shitu, a male from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Commissioner stated that the suspects were part of a four-man gang specializing in inter-state car theft and snatching, responsible for multiple incidents of car snatching and the disappearance of several Hilux vehicles in FCT and its environs.

Recovered from the suspects were a master key and a total of nine vehicles, including a red Toyota Rav 4 (without registration number), a brown Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA 630 AG, a Toyota Camry with registration number ABJ 307 LK, a Lexus SUV jeep with registration number KRD 949 FM, and five white Hilux vehicles (all without registration numbers).

CP Ben Igweh noted that the suspects confessed to their crimes and are currently assisting the police in apprehending other gang members who are still at large.

Furthermore, on February 23, 2024, at about 2:15 pm, acting on credible intelligence, the Anti-fraud unit of the command arrested two additional suspects – Abdullahi Yahaya, a 35-year-old male from Nasarawa State, and Gold Ebere, a 53-year-old male from Jabi, Abuja. The arrest took place at Tin Can Resort Garden in Jabi, Abuja, where the suspects were found in possession of 36 bundles of fake one hundred US dollar ($) notes, amounting to approximately $300,000 in counterfeit dollars.

The CP revealed that the suspects admitted to being part of an 8-man gang specializing in the interstate sale of fake dollar notes. They had successfully sold several fake notes to unsuspecting residents of FCT before their luck ran out, leading to their apprehension. The suspects are currently cooperating with the police in efforts to apprehend other members of the gang who are currently on the run.