A breakthrough investigation by the Ondo State Police Command’s Tactical Intelligence Squad (TIS) has led to the arrest of four suspects believed to be part of a notorious inter-state car theft syndicate. The operation, which spanned multiple states, also resulted in the recovery of three stolen vehicles.
The arrest was triggered by the confession of the alleged ringleader, 32-year-old Afolabi Emmanuel, who admitted to stealing a 2016 Toyota Camry from the home of one Amokun Victor in Oka-Akoko. According to police findings, Emmanuel scaled the fence of the victim’s residence, broke into the apartment, stole valuables, and made away with the vehicle. The stolen Camry, valued at N12 million, was sold for just N700,000 through an accomplice in Ogori-Magongo, Kogi State.
During a press briefing in Akure, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, explained that Emmanuel’s confession led to the recovery of two additional vehicles. Among them was a Toyota Sienna worth N6 million, which had been sold for N4 million.
CP Afolabi said the suspects had been responsible for a series of vehicle thefts across Ondo State. He revealed that Emmanuel, though based in Lagos, frequently visited Akungba-Akoko where his father lives, using those visits to identify targets for the syndicate.
“These suspects have been a menace, instilling fear in residents and dispossessing them of their hard-earned belongings. Their arrest is a significant blow to the network of criminals operating across state lines,” Afolabi stated.
He advised car owners to secure their vehicles with anti-theft technologies such as pedal locks and tracking devices, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures in curbing car theft.
