Lagos - Umar Manko, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, said on Sunday
that his command had arrested a fake army officer who specialised in
snatching cars in the Lagos metropolis.
Manko made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that the suspect, who was widely known as "Lt. Sule’’ in his
neighbourhood, was arrested in his girlfriend’s house in Ogudu after a
tip-off.
The commissioner said that suspect was arrested, following series of
complaints about car snatching by residents, who claimed that the
syndicate was led by an army officer.
Manko said that operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
launched a massive manhunt for the suspect, who was eventually arrested
in his girlfriend’s house.
He said that four pairs of army uniform with different badges of
various ranks, two army identification cards and boots were recovered
from the suspect.
The police boss said that that other items recovered from him
included a Honda Civic car with Reg. No. PQ 786 KJA and Honda CRV Jeep
with Reg. No. BU 277 FST, which were stolen in Lagos and Imo states
respectively.
Manko said that police investigation revealed that the suspect had
never enlisted in the Nigerian Army, adding that he was just a member of
a criminal syndicate that wanted to tarnish the image of the country’s
security institutions.
He called on the members of public to always be wary of such
criminals on the roads, adding that they should promptly report them to
the nearest security agency.
Manko assured the people that the command would strive to reduce crime in the state to the barest minimum.
- NAN