File photo: Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Police Command has successfully uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated interstate car theft syndicate with international connections. The operation led to the arrest of 12 suspects and the recovery of 22 stolen vehicles.
Among those arrested is a dismissed police officer found in possession of 11 vehicles at the time of his arrest. Also apprehended were three ex-convicts allegedly recruited into the criminal network.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the breakthrough followed an intelligence-driven operation sparked by a report from a victim, Mr. Enoch Daniel, whose Toyota Hiace bus was snatched at gunpoint in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area, in September 2024.
One suspect reportedly confessed to earning over ₦5 million within eight months from the illegal operations. Investigations revealed that members of the syndicate operated across state lines, with arrests made in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Kano states.
According to the statement: “In a major intelligence-led operation, the Rivers State Police Command successfully dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across multiple states in Nigeria. The operation led to the arrest of twelve male suspects and the recovery of twenty-two (22) stolen vehicles.”
Key suspects arrested include John Amadi (40) from Ogu/Bolo LGA and Nna Goodluck (45) from Khana LGA — both ex-convicts who admitted being paid ₦90,000 each to steal vehicles using hammers. Yakubu Abdullah (35) was apprehended in Oyigbo during a pickup operation. Abdulkareem Saminu (35) was caught with two stolen vehicles. Adamu Musa, a dismissed police officer from Akwa Ibom, was arrested with 11 stolen vehicles in his possession.
The syndicate is reportedly coordinated by a man identified as Falco Ibrahim, who remains at large. His operations spanned several states including Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Enugu, Borno, Kano, Delta, and Akwa Ibom. Vehicles were smuggled through his agent, Shehu Shagari, who is now in custody, and resold in Cameroon — either whole or dismantled for parts.
Additional suspects include Onyekachi Igwe (53), an ex-convict and Port Harcourt liaison, who admitted earning over ₦5 million in under a year; Ikechukwu Joseph (35) and Michael Emerenwa (40), both auto-electricians who modified stolen vehicles for export; Elijah Nwauwa Sunday (45), a self-proclaimed pastor from Owerri, who acted as a broker for the syndicate at the Mgbuka-Obosi car scrap market in Onitsha; Samuel Ejigbo (39) from Kogi State, an ex-convict and field operator in Port Harcourt; and Umar Jabbo (25) from Taraba State, caught while attempting to purchase a stolen Toyota Camry.
Iringe-Koko emphasized that the operation reflects the Command’s determination to make Rivers State a hostile environment for criminal syndicates. She urged the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with credible information.
All suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations, while efforts to apprehend the ringleader and other fleeing members are ongoing.
“The Rivers State Police Command remains committed to the safety and security of all residents. These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and restore public confidence in law enforcement,” the statement concluded.
