Photos: Delta State Police arrest ex-soldier for car snatching, robbery and kidnapping

The Delta State Police Command have arrested an ex-soldier from Tudun Wada quarters of Zaria, Kaduna State, over his alleged membership of a car snatching syndicate. The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Asaba on Wednesday, said the suspect, Sani Abubakar, who deserted the Army in 2013, was nabbed after the other gang members had been arrested.

"At about 1700hrs, while on stop and search on PTI Road, Effurun, operatives of 51 Police Mobile Force, Oghara, accosted one Toyota Corolla car with registration number EKY 128 DM and was carrying four occupants.

"Two of the occupants took to their heels as soon as the vehicle was stopped for a search.                             

"One Happy Sunday, a 24-year old male, and Stanley Vincent,  29,  were arrested," said the CP.

The vehicle was recovered along with two locally made pistols, six AR live cartridges, handsets, and charms belonging to the gang. Mr. Ibrahim also said investigators have identified and contacted the rightful owner of the car, one Mrs. Nwamaka Nwizu of Aka Avenue, Effurun. Mrs. Nwizu.
The ex- soldier was arrested on November 11, following a confession by the principal suspect, Stanley Vincent, that the former soldier usually escorted vehicles snatched by the gang to a receiver in Kaduna.

A phone call was made to the former soldier through the suspect and an arrangement made for him to escort a Toyota Avalon car. The ex-soldier requested that the vehicle be taken to their meeting point in Benin, where detectives arrested him.

"He introduced himself as a soldier and presented a Nigerian Army I.D card bearing Rank: Corporal, Name: Sani Abubakar and P/No. 2005/NA/57/3561. However, the suspect has confessed to the crime and revealed that he enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 2005, trained at Zaria Depot and was posted to Supply and Transport, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Jos, Plateau State, but deserted the Army in 2013," Mr. Ibrahim told journalists.

A four-man kidnap syndicate was smashed, while several armed robbery suspects were also arrested. The suspects will soon be charged to court, the CP added.


Source: Sahara Reporters