450 stolen motorcycles recovered, five suspects held in Imo
The Imo State Police Command has announced the recovery of a suspected stolen vehicle, 450 motorcycles, N6.495,900 and arrest of five suspects. During the press conference and parade of the
The Imo State Police Command has announced the recovery of a suspected stolen vehicle, 450 motorcycles, N6.495,900 and arrest of five suspects.
During the press conference and parade of the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Henry Okoye, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said the breakthrough was achieved through a coordinated operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
According to him, the operation, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa.
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He added that N6,495,900, vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including criminal charms, were also recovered from the suspects’ hideout
The Command further said the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe the operatives with N5 million, an offer that was rejected.
The police said the case was reported on April 6, following a distress call from one Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri North Local Government Area, who reported that his driver and vehicle had been missing.
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“The driver, Paul Ejike Ohaka, who left on April 5 with a shuttle bus, failed to return as scheduled. He was later found unconscious at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been taken by unknown assailants,” the statement read.
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Police operatives, acting on intelligence, traced the vehicle to a workshop in Orlu, where it was about to be repainted to conceal its identity. Two suspects were arrested at the scene, while investigations led to the arrest of three others.
The police said some of the suspects confessed to the crime, implicating a fleeing suspect identified as Osita Chigbo, also known as “Barr. Oguta.”
A search of the suspects’ premises led to the recovery of additional motorcycles, with follow-up yielding a total of 450 suspected stolen motorcycles.
“The suspects were unable to provide valid proof of ownership for the recovered motorcycles. Instead, they attempted to relocate them through bush paths to evade detection, but operatives intercepted the movement based on credible intelligence,” the police added.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed that the suspects be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the spokesperson said.
