Police arrest ex-soldier for alleged involvement in car snatching

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested one ex-soldier, Sani Abubakar, of Tudun wada quarters Zaria, Kaduna State for allegedly belonging to a car snatching syndicate.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, made the disclosure while addressing journalist at the headquarters of the command in Asaba on Wednesday.
The text of his press statement was sent to journalists.
The police chief said Mr. Abubakar, who allegedly deserted the Army in 2013, was apprehended after a painstaking investigation by detectives following the arrest of his gang.
“At about 1700hrs, while on stop and search at PTI road Effurun operatives of 51 Police Mobile Force, Oghara accosted one Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. EKY 128 DM with four occupants. Two of the occupants took to their heels as soon as the vehicle was stopped for a search, one Happy Sunday ‘m’, 24yrs and Stanley Vincent‘m’, 29yrs were arrested and the vehicle recovered along with two locally made pistols, six AR live cartridges, handsets and charms from them. So far, investigators have identified and contacted the rightful owner of the said Toyota Corolla car, one Nwamaka Nwizu ‘f’ of Aka Avenue, Effurun, and she has narrated how the car was snatched from her alongside other valuables.
​”On 11/11/2016, following the confession and disclosure by the principal suspect, Stanley Vincent, that a soldier who is their accomplice usually escorts vehicles stolen by his gang to a receiver at Kaduna, a call was made to the said soldier through the suspect and arrangement made for him to escort a Toyota Avalon.
“He requested that the vehicle be taken to their meeting point at Benin where detectives arrested the said suspect identified as one Sani Abubakar ‘m’ of No. 33 Tudun Wada, Zaria, Kaduna state when he showed up at the said meeting point. He introduced himself as a soldier and presented a Nigeria Army I.D card bearing Rank: Corporal, Name: Sani Abubakar and P/No. 2005/NA/57/3561.
​”However, the suspect has confessed to the crime and revealed that he enlisted into the Nigeria Army in 2005, trained at Zaria Depot and posted to Supply & Transport, 3 Division, N/A Jos, Plateau state, but deserted the army in 2013.
”Items recovered from him included one Nigeria Army I.D card bearing his name and photograph,” Mr. Ibrahim stated according to his press statement, a copy of which was sent to PREMIUM TIMES.
The police chief added that a four man kidnap syndicate was equally smashed while several armed robbery suspects were arrested and are soon to be charge to court.