From Our Correspondent – Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has sustained its crime-fighting efforts with two separate operations that resulted in the recovery of two vehicles snatched from their owners in separate incidents in Imo State. One of the operations also led to the arrest of three suspects. The recovered vehicles include a commercial minibus recently snatched in Okigwe and a Lexus RX 300 SUV stolen during an armed robbery in Owerri in 2018.

In the first operation, on June 25, 2026, following a report that a commercial minibus with registration number AKL 969 AH had been snatched from its driver the previous day in Okigwe, Imo State, operatives of the Command’s Aninri Police Division, acting on credible intelligence, traced the vehicle to Onunweke, Ndeaboh, in Aninri Local Government Area, where the suspects abandoned it and fled on sighting the operatives. The vehicle was recovered, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

In a separate operation on June 21, 2026, a complainant reported to the Enugu Metro Area Command that he had purchased a gold-coloured Lexus RX 300 SUV with registration number EZA 323 NF in Enugu. However, a verification by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the vehicle had been flagged as stolen. Operatives immediately recovered the vehicle, while investigations established that it had been stolen during an armed robbery in Owerri, Imo State, in 2018. Further investigations led to the arrest of three male suspects: Chukwudi Ubani (the seller), Uchenna Obaji, and Nnamene Chukwudi, all residents of Enugu State.

The recovered vehicles and the arrested suspects will be handed over to the Imo State Police Command for further conclusive investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has commended the operatives for the successful operations and urged members of the public to continue supporting the Police with credible and timely information. He also advised intending buyers of used vehicles to verify ownership documents and the status of vehicles with the relevant authorities before purchase to avoid acquiring stolen vehicles.

CP Giwa further urged vehicle owners to register their vehicles with the appropriate licensing authorities and the Nigeria Police Force Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) to facilitate the prompt detection and recovery of stolen vehicles, as demonstrated in the recovery of the Lexus RX 300 SUV.

Spokesman for the Command SP Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the story.

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