The Enugu State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against vehicle theft, recovering a Lexus RX 300 SUV stolen during an armed robbery eight years ago and a commercial minibus recently snatched in Imo State, while arresting three suspected members of a vehicle theft syndicate.
The Command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, saying the recoveries were made in separate intelligence-led operations carried out by police operatives across the state.
According to the statement, the first operation took place on June 25, when operatives attached to the Aninri Police Division acted on credible intelligence following a report that a commercial minibus bearing registration number AKL 969 AH had been hijacked from its driver a day earlier in Okigwe, Imo State.
The police said the vehicle was traced to Onunweke in Ndeaboh, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the suspects abandoned it and fled upon sighting the operatives.
The stolen vehicle was successfully recovered, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In a separate operation conducted on June 21, the Command recovered a gold-coloured Lexus RX 300 SUV with registration number EZA 323 NF, which investigations revealed had been stolen during an armed robbery in Owerri, Imo State, in 2018.
Police said the breakthrough followed a complaint lodged at the Enugu Metro Area Command by a buyer who had purchased the vehicle in Enugu.
According to the Command, a verification carried out with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the SUV had been flagged as stolen.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Chukwudi Ubani, alleged to have sold the vehicle, alongside Uchenna Obaji and Nnamene Chukwudi, all residents of Enugu State.
The police said the recovered vehicles, along with the arrested suspects, would be handed over to the Imo State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Commending the operatives for the successful operations, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, praised their professionalism and commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state.
He urged members of the public to continue assisting the police with timely and credible information capable of preventing and combating crime.
The Commissioner also advised intending buyers of used vehicles to always verify ownership documents and confirm the status of vehicles with the appropriate authorities before completing any purchase to avoid unknowingly acquiring stolen property.
CP Giwa further encouraged vehicle owners to register their automobiles with the appropriate licensing authorities and the Nigeria Police Force Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), noting that the system has continued to enhance the prompt detection and recovery of stolen vehicles, as demonstrated by the recovery of the Lexus RX 300 SUV stolen in 2018.
