The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 headquarters Onikan, Lagos has recorded a major operational breakthrough in its sustained fight against stealing, economic sabotage and criminal conspiracy with the arrest of nine (9) suspects linked to two notorious syndicates in a case of stealing, diversion of goods in transit and criminal
conspiracy.
The successful operation led to the recovery of diverted goods valued at over sixty million naira (N60, 000, 000).
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos, DSP Afolayan Gbenga; detectives attached to the Zone 2 Headquarters Dragon Team, acting on credible intelligence from a reliable informant, initiated a covert operation targeted at dismantling criminal syndicates involved in diverting goods from their rightful destinations to illegal receivers and black market operators.
This intelligence driven operation led to the arrest of the following suspects: Innocent Nkem ‘m’ 49yrs, Gasali Ojo ‘m’ 42yrs, Arogundade Owolabi ‘m’ 56yrs, Banji Olatunji ‘m’ 43yrs, Dickson
Nchekwube ‘m’ 46yrs, Henry Uwa ‘m’ 51yrs, Ikechukwu Olua ‘m’ 52yrs, Oludare Ebunolu ‘m’ 63yrs and Imadu Charles ‘m’ 62yrs.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicates operated through criminal arrangements involving truck drivers and their assistant who deliberately diverts goods from their lawful destinations before selling to receivers at ridiculously low prices.
The modus operandi is that the suspects, after executing the criminal transactions, often reportedly abandon the trailer/truck at a strategic location and flee to evade arrest.
Further investigations revealed that members of the first syndicate diverted two Benin−bound (Edo State) 45,000 litres trucks fully loaded with molasses chemical. The first truck was recovered while illegally trans−loading the molasses chemical at Itokin area of Lagos State to the receiver, one Banji Olatunji.
The second truck and goods were recovered at Ogere trailer park, in Ogun State while the suspect was searching for a buyer. The estimated value of a 45,000 litres loaded truck of molasses chemical is eleven million naira (N11, 000, 000). Other suspects linked to the syndicate include Innocent Nkem, Gasali Ojo, Arogundade Owolabi and
Dickson Nchekwube.
In a related development, the detectives uncovered another criminal syndicate responsible for diverting a trailer load of dairy products that was Jos−bound (Plateau State). The goods loaded at Sagamu, was illegally diverted to one Oludare Ebunolu at Ijebu ode area of Ogun State.
Detectives moved swiftly and recovered the diverted dairy products valued at about twenty eight million naira (N28, 000, 000). Other suspects linked to the syndicate include Henry Uwa, Ikechukwu Olua and Imadu Charles.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 2- AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh has directed that investigations be intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal syndicates while assuring members of the public that no stone will be left unturned in crushing all forms crimes and criminal syndicates within Lagos and Ogun States.
The suspects will be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of iinvestigations.
The Zone 2 Headquarters remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding commercial activities and ensuring that no criminal elements have a hiding place in Lagos and Ogun States.
