The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime, dismantling a sophisticated interstate car theft syndicate and recovering 22 stolen vehicles.
The syndicate, which operated across at least eight states in Nigeria, was uncovered following a September 2024 carjacking of a Toyota Hiace bus at Trailer Park, Onne.
The case was reported by the vehicle owner, Enoch Daniel, and triggered a months-long, intelligence-driven operation led by the Command’s C4i Strikeforce/Octopus team.
The initial arrests of John Amadi (40) and Nna Goodluck (45), both ex-convicts from Rivers State, revealed critical information.
The duo confessed to being paid N90,000 each by one Godspower Okpa to snatch vehicles using hammers.
Investigations rapidly expanded to other states, Obio/Akpor (Rivers), Kano, and Akwa Ibom, where police picked up additional suspects and discovered a web of criminal activity stretching to the Cameroon border.
Key arrests included Yakubu Abdullah (35), who was nabbed in Obibo; Abdulkareem Saminu (35), caught with two stolen vehicles; and Adamu Musa, a dismissed police officer, found with 11 stolen vehicles in Akwa Ibom.
The entire operation was allegedly coordinated by Falco Ibrahim, currently at large.
His network spammed Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Enugu, Borno, Kano, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, with stolen vehicles reportedly smuggled to Cameroon, either in whole or disassembled for parts. One of his key agents, Shehu Shagari, is now in custody.
Among those arrested was one Onyekachi Igwe (53), an ex-convict and Port Harcourt-based liaison who confessed to earning N5 million in just eight months
Ikechukwu Joseph (35) and Michael Emerenwa (40) auto-electricians who reconfigured vehicles for export
The police spokesperson in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that all suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
She emphasised the Command’s ongoing efforts to apprehend the syndicate’s ringleader and other fleeing suspects.
“These arrests underscore our resolve to make Rivers State hostile to criminal syndicates.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant and support the Police with credible information, ” she said.
