Police recover Channels TV car, 14 others from gang

A suspected car snatcher who had been on the police wanted list in the past six years has been arrested and 15 stolen cars recovered from him. One of the cars belonged to a worker with the Channels Television.

 

Recovered cars

According to the police, the suspect, Nura Mohammed, 33 and his partners, Maven Bali, 40, Cheikube Emeka, 32, Ejike Chukwuemeka, 37, Jacob Ali, 28, Titus Johana, 31 and Richard Augustine 30, had been terrorising Lagos, Ogun and other western states in their robbery spree.

Mohammed denied being a member of the gang, insisting that he only used to receive stolen cars from them at Niger border post.

His words: “A friend of mine, who is late, introduced me to the leader of the gang. I reside in Kano. But whenever a car was available, the leader of the gang would call me on phone. The car would be driven down to me at the Niger boarder post, where they are always buyers from Niger. I have received about 14 stolen cars from the suspects. I started the business since 2012.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, said that Mohammed had been on the wanted list of the Nigerian Police since 2010 before he was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives.

Aderanti said: “On 17, January, a worker with Channels Television reported the snatching of her Sport Utility Vehicles at gun point around OPIC, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State. Immediately the incident was reported, I ordered the officer in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, to launch a massive manhunt for the robbers. Three of the armed robbery suspects were arrested in Ojodu and Ikorodu areas of Lagos

One of the suspects, Chukwuemeka said: “I studied Accounting at the University of Lagos in 2006. After graduation, I worked briefly at Apapa Wharf Tin-Can as a clearing agent. When the business was not going well as respected, I travelled to South Africa for the pursuit of greener pasture. Before I travelled to South Africa, I had known Emeka. We met at Apapa. When the country where I travelled to, was no more conducive, I decided to come back home.”

He said that when he came back to Nigeria in June, he went in search of his friend, Emeka.

Police said that he allegedly introduced Emeka into snatching of cars on the highways.

Chukwuemeka further said: “We used to steal cars parked by the roadside. We use our locally made gun to scare victims. Once we snatch any vehicle, we take it straight to Alhaji Nuran house in Kano, where he helps us to dispose it. I was inside my house at Ojodu relaxing when the policemen came and arrested me. I regretted my action. I don’t know what my parents would say when they see me in television being paraded as robber.”

Stating his own story, Augustine, a graduate of Fishery and Farming, Federal University of Technology, Minna said: “I’d never been involved in armed robbery before. I and my family members used to reside in Nassarawa State. During the inter-communal clash in the state, I was attacked by the Fulani herdsmen.

“This attack made me to buy a locally made gun for defence of myself and family. When my friend Emeka came to me, asking for the loan of the gun, he told me that he needed it to protect himself.  I gave the gun to him. I never knew he and some other men wanted to use the gun for robbery. I was going to collect my gun from him when police arrested me.”