By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Five motorcycle snatching syndicate terrorizing Adavi Local Government and Kogi Central have been arrested by the Nigerian Police in collaboration with local vigilante group in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that luck ran out of the suspects on Wednesday while struggling to snatch a motorcycle from an Okada Rider before they were arrested at Ebogogo Community in Adavi Local Government area of the state.
The gang who hails from different states were identified as;
ThankGod from Kaduna, Bello from Edo, Abdullahi Musa from Gombe, Zahamarudeen AKA (Yellow), Zamfara, and Mr. Solomon from Edo State respectively.
The suspects confessed that they have been responsible for motorcycle snatching in Kogi Central axis and their operation hideout is along Auchi road, where they normally lured Okada Rider to and forcefully snatch their motorcycles.
They also admitted that the motorcycles found in their possession were stolen from Okada Riders and many that were sold at a give away price of #30,000 each.
The Gang leader, Mr. ThankGod who was paraded along with other suspects said “We have been in this motorcycle snatching business for a long time Since the economy is not friendly, we have to survive.”
“We normally use tricks on Okada riders to snatch their bike. Each bike we steal is usually sold between N25,000 to N30,000 depending on how urgent we needed money. And whenever we sell the stolen motorcycles, we share the money among ourselves.”
Addressing journalist on government’s effort to curb the activities of robbers and kidnappers in the Local Government, the Chairman of Adavi Local council, Hon. Joseph Omuya warned that Adavi will not be a safe haven for criminal elements in the state.
He urged the residents of the Local Government to continue to support and cooperates with Security Agencies in providing accurate and timely information about the movement of suspicious persons in their domain.
Items recovered from the suspects include; three motorcycles, locally made guns, speaker and generator set.
