Four suspected car snatchers meet their waterloo in the hands of Rivers State Police Command which recovers five vehicles
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four members of a car snatching gang and recovered five vehicles in different parts of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Blessing Agabe, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to newsmen said members of the syndicate were also involved in the buying and selling of stolen vehicles.
The statement said a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on organised vehicle’s theft came on April 10, 2026, when operatives of the Command’s Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Paul Nwabueze Jude, male, aged 46 years, a resident of Ogbogoro Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, who has been on the run following his involvement in a previously reported case of vehicle theft and the earlier arrest of his accomplice, one Uju Molokai, male and aged 32 years, on 16 November 2025.
The statement read in part: “The suspect had been on the run following his involvement in a previously reported case of vehicle theft and the earlier arrest of his accomplice, one Uju Molokai (m), 32 years, on 16 November 2025.
“At the time, a stolen Toyota Hilux in his custody was successfully recovered, while the said Paul Nwabueze Jude evaded arrest.
“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the earlier crime as well as several other vehicle theft operations. He further disclosed that the syndicate operates as a four-person gang.
“Acting on this confession and subsequent intelligence, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested other members of the gang and recovery of the vehicles.
“The names of the suspects are: one Paul Nwabueze Jude, male, 46 years, resident of Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor LGA, Dike Micheal, male, 46 years, a native of Imo state, Uzomba Darlington, male, 47 years old, a native of Abia State, Enyinnaya Eugene, male, a native of Imo State. The exhibit recovered includes two (2) Toyota Hilux and three (3) Toyota Sienna vehicles.
“Investigations further revealed the existence of a key receiver of the stolen vehicles, who is believed to have additional stolen cars. Efforts are ongoing to arrest this individual and recover all other stolen vehicles in his possession.
“The Commissioner of Police (CP), Rivers State, Olugbenga A. Adepoju, urges members of the public to remain vigilant and adopt basic security measures to protect their vehicles and property, install tracking and anti-theft devices and avoid leaving valuables exposed, unattended in their vehicles.
“The Commissioner of Police encourages citizens to promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station, as timely information is vital to effective crime prevention.”
Again, in another incident, CP Adepoju dismissed report of criminal herdsmen resettling in Ikwerre Community, as the joint security forces stormed Rivers forests. Adepoju gave stern warning against the detention of suspects by vigilante groups.
On Tuesday April 28, 2026, the Joint Security Forces in Rivers State, comprising of the Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, members of OSPAC (local vigilante) stormed a forest formally known as rubber estate, a boundary between IPO community in Ikwerre and Abara community in Etche Local Government Area respectively in search of criminal remnants who were dislodged two weeks ago after the Kidnap of one Collins Ohahurun a member and leader of OSPAC.
In an interaction with Journalists, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, (CP) Olugbenga Adepoju, said “Today 28th of April, 2026 the Joint Task Force, moved into IPO in Ikwerre Local Government Area where there have been misinformation of herdsmen residing in the forest, having solar panel, borehole and settled there in their numbers.
“Initially on the 9th of this month some members of OSPAC went into the IPO community where they burnt some camps where cow rearers reside and because of that, they had altercation with the herdsmen. One OSPAC member was injured and subsequently abducted. They now retrieved and came to report to the Police.
“My men moved into the place, on getting there, they have taken to their heels. So we searched the area they were no where to be found. On the 12th April, we moved in there again to ransack the place with other Security agencies, because there have been information that the Herdsmen are many there and they have taken over the place, having there nefarious activities there without been challenged. So we moved there enmass .
“We were able to chase the few ones we saw there and AK 47 rifle, 274 live ammunition and pump action suspected to be owned by the abducted OSPAC leader were recovered.
“Since then we have been combing the bush, with our men dominating that area.
“On the 21st of this month we were there to comb the bush, there was nobody seen in the forest, except people who are farming. We also went on 23rd of April to find out if people are residing there.
“Today pressmen with us equally went to that forest because there have been rumours and false information circulated by one “Humble Lion” who claimed that Herdsmen are in their numbers in that forest, well settled, they have borehole, solar panel powered building, that the security operatives are not capable of dislodging them, that they are terrorizing the bush, selling human parts, which are false. Today we went there, nothing of such was found.
“Meanwhile, we are still on the look for the OSPAC man who was abducted. The IPO forest is safe. We are still dominating the area. The forest Is devoid of any criminality. We are still on the watch out to rescue the abducted OSPAC personnel.
“I want to use this medium to tell all local vigilante to work in synergy with the Police. If they have any information or there are people who they suspect in their locality, they should inform the Police before they move in. Since we are trained we will be able to know how to handle such matter rather than exposing themselves to danger.
“Their lives first before any other thing. That is the slogan. Save your life first before you save others.
“We want to use this medium to tell all members of the public to inform security operatives on time if they see any suspicious activity so that we can tackle it” CP Adepoju said.
Equally the Commissioner warns Vigilantes Over Detention Of Persons/Suspects
“All security operatives in the local Government Area are to work in synergy with the Police, we are trained on how to go about detecting crime in compliance with Administration of Criminal Justice system.
“We encourage vigilante, OSPAC, forest guards, hunters, all these local security apparatus within the community to work in synergy with the Police because they know the area very well and should on no account go on their own to arrest people or Criminals without synergizing with Police who will direct them strategically on how to do that.
“I want you to know that everybody has the right and power to arrest but you have to ensure you hand over such people to the Police, don’t arrest and detain, private security, it is wrong and criminal” CP Adepoju concludes.
Reports has it that over one hundred combined security operatives and Journalists went into the forest on Tuesday.
