Stolen Vehicle In Delta Recovered In Ondo Three Years After

By Ayodele Oni

Three years after, Ondo state Police Command has recovered a Lexus ES350 car earlier reported stolen in Warri, Delta State.

Police sources revealed that the vehicle was recovered at a point its documents were to be renewed with the old registration number intact.

Spokesman of the command, Jimoh Kazeem, in a statement on Thursday, explained that “the success followed intelligence-driven operations by operatives of the Command, coupled with robust inter-agency collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

“This led to the interception of the vehicle when it was presented at the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) Office in Akure for document renewal.

“Preliminary verification revealed that the vehicle’s registration number had not been captured on the NVIS portal, prompting a discreet and thorough investigation.

“Subsequent inquiries confirmed that the Lexus ES350 was forcefully stolen at gunpoint in Warri, Delta State, in February 2022.

“Acting on this development, operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad arrested Alawuye, male; aged 31 and Tosin, male; aged 32 years, in connection with the crime and successfully recovered the vehicle.

“The suspects have made useful statements that are currently aiding efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal network.

“In furtherance of strong inter-command collaboration between the Ondo State Police Command and the Delta State Police Command, arrangements have been concluded for the release of the recovered vehicle to its rightful owner in Delta State.”

In another operation, operatives attached to the Highway Patrol Team along the Uso Expressway intercepted a motorcycle during a routine stop-and-search operation, a measure that has continued to yield significant results in crime prevention and detection.

In the course of this operation, and upon sighting the police operatives, the motorcyclist abandoned his two passengers and fled with the motorcycle, leaving the passengers behind. Consequently, the two individuals were promptly apprehended by the operatives.

Following their apprehension, the suspects were identified as Daniel (male), aged 22 years, and Jamiyu (male), aged 27 years.

A thorough search conducted on them led to the recovery of a black bag containing a cut-to-size single-barrel firearm.

The suspects are currently in police custody and have made useful statements, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing motorcyclist and to determine the source and intended use of the recovered firearm.