Police Smash Car Theft Syndicate in Lagos

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad led by the Officerin- Charge, Abba Kyari, of the Lagos State Police Command, has smashed a car theft syndicate.

The gang had successfully snatched a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord 2011 model and a Toyota Prado Jeep, from their owners and had made plans to dispose of them.

It was gathered that the suspects were on their way to smuggling the stolen cars out of Lagos through the Badagry- Seme border, when they were ambushed by the police following a tip off.

The operatives were said to have laid ambush along the Ajamgbadi area of Ojo Local Government, and made a surprise swoop when the suspects drove to the spot.

Despite the surprise, the suspects engaged the operatives in a gun duel that lasted for minutes before they were overpowered and three of them gunned down.

Police sources said the success of the exercise lay in the fact that the suspects were taken unawares and before they could regroup, they were overpowered, although he added that a police corporal was wounded in the gun duel.

He said, “An informant hinted us that a car theft syndicate was about driving some stolen cars out of Lagos from their hide-out in Ajamgbadi to Seme border and we laid an ambush and foiled their plans.” Confirming the story, the state Police Command Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said the raid was in line with the need to rid the state of criminals. She said, “But the present police management has already warned criminals to relocate from Lagos.

At least the CP, Umar Manko sounded that warning months back. We are not here for a tea party.” Although the corpses have since been deposited at one of the morgues in Badagry, the recovered vehicles have been moved to the Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.