The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, has announced the arrest of nine suspects linked to two notorious syndicates involved in stealing, diversion of goods in transit, and criminal conspiracy, with items valued at over ₦60 million recovered.
The arrested suspects include Innocent Nkem, 49; Gasali Ojo, 42; Arogundade Owolabi, 56; Banji Olatunji, 43; Dickson Nchekwube, 46; Henry Uwa, 51; Ikechukwu Olua, 52; Oludare Ebunolu, 63; and Imadu Charles, 62.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Headquarters Public Relations Officer, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, detectives attached to the Zone 2 Headquarters Dragon Team, acting on credible intelligence received from a reliable informant, launched a covert investigation aimed at dismantling the criminal networks responsible for diverting goods from their intended destinations to illegal receivers and black-market buyers.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicates operated through criminal arrangements involving truck drivers and their assistants, who deliberately diverted goods from their lawful destinations before selling them 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 (₦11,000,000),” the statement said.
Suspects linked to the syndicate include Nkem, Ojo, Owolabi, and Nchekwube, while detectives also uncovered another criminal syndicate responsible for diverting a trailer load of dairy products bound for Jos, Plateau State.
DSP Gbenga disclosed that the goods, which were loaded in Sagamu, were illegally diverted to Ebunolu in the Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State. He stated that detectives moved swiftly and recovered the diverted dairy products valued at about ₦28,000,000, leading to the arrest of other suspects linked to the syndicate, including Uwa, Olua, and Charles.
Commenting on the arrests, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, directed that investigations be intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal syndicates.
AIG Jimoh assured members of the public that no stone would be left unturned in crushing all forms of crime and criminal syndicates within Lagos and Ogun States.
He added that the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of investigations.
The AIG reiterated the headquarters’ commitment to safeguarding commercial activities and ensuring that criminal elements have no hiding place in Lagos and Ogun States.
