Police arrest 4 over car theft, recover stolen vehicles in Rivers

Police operatives in Rivers State have arrested four suspected car thieves involved in the sale of stolen vehicles and recovered five vehicles from them. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Agabe Kaborlo Blessing, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt. She said the breakthrough followed intelligence-driven operations by […]

Police operatives in Rivers State have arrested four suspected car thieves involved in the sale of stolen vehicles and recovered five vehicles from them.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Agabe Kaborlo Blessing, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt.

She said the breakthrough followed intelligence-driven operations by the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

“On April 10, 2026, at about 17:50 hours, operatives of the VCRU, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Paul Nwabueze Jude (46), a resident of Ogbogoro Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area,” she said.

The suspect had been on the run after being linked to a previous vehicle theft case and the earlier arrest of his accomplice, Uju Molokai, in November 2025, during which a stolen Toyota Hilux was recovered.

According to the police, the suspect confessed during interrogation and revealed that the syndicate operates as a four-man gang.

“Acting on this confession and further intelligence, other members of the gang and receivers of stolen vehicles were arrested,” she said.

The other suspects were identified as Dike Micheal (46), a native of Imo State; Uzomba Darlington (47), from Abia State; and Emyinnaya Eugene, from Imo State.

Recovered exhibits, according to her, include two Toyota Hilux vehicles and three Sienna buses.

Police said investigations also uncovered a key receiver still at large, believed to be in possession of additional stolen vehicles, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspect.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to remain vigilant and adopt security measures such as installing tracking devices and avoiding leaving valuables unattended in vehicles.

He also encouraged the public to report suspicious activities promptly to aid crime prevention.