The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police
Command, has recovered Eight (8) stolen vehicles from a member of a
syndicate specialized in trans-border crime and stealing vehicles in
Lagos and moving them to Ogun and neighbouring countries to sell.
The operatives of RRS, who were working on a reported
case of stolen Toyota Corolla from where it was parked in Ikeja
Business District, Lagos, tracked the vehicle on Thursday night to a
compound in Kobape, Abeokuta, belonging to a car dealer.
According to the report, it was gathered that the Toyota Corolla, grey,
2004 model with registration number, KRD 759, belonging to Mrs. Olaitan
Lawal, was removed from the car park during a church programme at Ikeja,
at about 6:00 pm on Thursday before it was found around 1:00 a.m. on
Friday.
According to the owner of the car:
โI took my car to the church and I parked it at the space designated for
parking. After the church service, I went back to pick my car to go
home, but I couldnโt find the carโฆ. Immediately, I called Lagos
emergency line on 112 and I reported to the representative. As if that
was not enough, I went straight to Area F in Ikeja, to equally lodge the
complaintโฆ. At the station, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)
connected me to the Commander of RRS, Assistant Commissioner of Police,
ACP Olatunji Disu, as capable hand to handle the caseโฆ. The DPO also
gave me the Commander’s phone number, and, when I called him, he assured
me that my car would be found. By this time, it was around 9:00 p.m. at
nightโฆ. At home, I couldnโt sleep until around, 12:15 a.m. after
midnight when I saw the Commanderโs call requesting that I describe my
car. I gave him, and he told me that he had found my car in somewhere in
Abeokuta. I couldnโt believe my ears. In about six hours interval, my
car was found.”
The Dโcoy team moved to Abeokuta that same night and led to the arrest
of two prime suspects who have confessed their connections with the
recovered Corolla and seven other stolen cars presently at the RRS
headquarters.
The suspects, Samuel Adebeshin, 56, the receiver of the stolen vehicles,
who lives at 13 Kobape Road, Abeokuta, and an accomplice, Adeyemi
Kamoru, 50, repeatedly maintained that the eight vehicles were all
stolen at different locations in Lagos.
In his confessional statement:
“I have been in auto business for thirty years. I know all these cars
brought to me were all stolen cars, but I thought I was safe enough here
in my palatial compoundโฆ. About two years ago, I met Kamoru Adeyemi. He
was the middleman between me and the car thieves. He was the one who
introduced Alhaji Tajudeen and one honourable, both still at large, to
me as car dealers and crossers from Benin Republicโฆ. Later on, I
discovered they were car snatchers from Lagos. At this point, I couldnโt
back out from the deal. Anytime they bring cars to me, it was Adeyemi
who I give money to pay them because I didn’t want people to identify me
with themโฆ. In the year 2014, I bought one Honda from them at the rate
of three hundred thousand naira, but its market value was around Nine
Hundred Thousand Naira thenโฆ. The money was given to Adeyemi. I later
sold the car for Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira six months
afterโฆ. Also, in the month of January 2015, I bought another Honda
Accord 2000 model from them again; I also paid the thieves through our
middleman, Adeyemi.”
The suspect, who married two wives with seven children, noted that he
had built two houses, two flats and an 8-room bungalow from this shady
business.
In his words:
“I built my first house, an 8 room-bungalow in 2006, and the second one,
two flats in 2015 where I keep the stolen vehicles as they arrive from
Lagosโฆ. Once they bring the cars for me, we would repaint it, change
their number plates and chassis numbers, and take them to neighbouring
countries for saleโฆ. Occasionally, I sold to people at my car mart, S.
Aro Motors situated at 1, Kuto Road, Isabo, Abeokuta. On this
penultimate day, at about 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Adeyemi called me that
our boys have brought another Toyota Corolla for sale. By this time, I
wasn’t at home, but I instructed my first son to open gate for themโฆ.
The car was parked in my premises, awaiting the usual refurbishment and
paintingโฆ. However, At about 12:30 a.m., a team of policemen came to my
house and asked me to give account of the Toyota Corolla car. I opened
up to them. I told them that all those involved are Adeyemi, Alhaji
Tajudeen Bello and Honourable. They brought all those cars to meโฆ. I
took the Police to Adeyemi’s residence where he was arrested while
others were still at large.”
In his part, Adeyemi disclosed that poverty pushed him into the crime.
He confessed: โI met Adebeshin some years back. Before now, I do assist
him to cross vehicle from Benin to Nigeriaโฆ. Anytime those boys went for
operation and succeeded, they will call me, and I will inform him that
we have another car. And I will drive the car to his premises in Kobape
where buyers usually come to buy themโฆ. In any deal we do, they paid me
Thirty-Thousand Naira. On this day, one of the car snatchers called me
to meet them at Sagamu interchange. On getting there, I found out they
have another stolen carโฆ. I led them from Sagamu interchange to
Adebesin’s house. Alhaji drove the stolen car, while Bello drove Pontiac
black colour. This was the first time I will be arrested in connection
with stolen cars. It was poverty and frustration that led me to this
criminal act.”
The other seven vehicles recovered from Adebeshin’s compound were
Mercedes Benz 230; Acura MDX; Murano, Volkswagen Passat station wagon,
Renault, Pontiac and Toyota Camry.
The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo
Badmus, said the suspects are helping the Police with investigations.
She added that efforts are on-going to arrest other fleeing members of
the syndicate.
