Police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Anambra State have arrested in Imo and Anambra states a four-man syndicate specialising in snatching, dismembering of cars and selling of the parts to unsuspecting buyers.
From different locations in the two states, Nkpor in Anambra State and Awommama in Imo State, the men were arrested after they had stolen a car belonging to a pastor and shooting him on the leg.
Within Nkpor axis, three members of the syndicate, namely, Emeka Onyeoma (23), Chidiebele Amaluaka (22) and Ezenwaokolo Ikechukwu (20) were arrested.
Police spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, said on February 2, 2020 at about 2.30p.m, the syndicate allegedly lured one Pastor Uche Iheme, aged 41 years of Awomama, Imo State, to a location behind First Bank, Oyeolisa Ogidi, in Anambra State, and snatched his Toyota RAV4 car, marked GRE 170 AA, Samsung J4 phone valued at N82,000 and $5,000.
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The suspects, the police further said, also shot the victim on his left limb and fled, leaving him unconscious in the pool of his blood.
Investigation, however, led to the arrest of the receiver of the stolen items, one Abuchi James (30) at Mgbuka Obosi, a major old spare parts market in Anambra State, where the snatched vehicle had been completely dismantled and sold out, but the engine was recovered.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects, according to police, included one Barrette pistol with three rounds of .9mm ammunition as well as the engine of the car.
According to the police, the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.