Nigeria Police Force Zone 2 Command in Lagos say it has dismantled a motorcycle theft syndicate operating across Lagos and Ogun states. It added that it arrested three suspected members and recovering five stolen motorcycles.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olohundare Jimoh said the arrests followed an investigation into a gang accused of stealing motorcycles in the Sagamu and Ijebu Ode areas of Ogun State.
According to a statement signed by Zone 2 spokesperson DSP Gbenga Afolayan, the operation began after a petition was submitted to the command on April 12 concerning the activities of the syndicate.
The statement said Investigators found that the suspects allegedly stole motorcycles in Sagamu and Ijebu Ode before selling them in Ogere, Ojodu Berger, Mushin and other parts of the country.
The Police said operatives from the Zone 2 “Dragon Team” carried out surveillance and intelligence gathering before laying an ambush around the Sagamu Interchange on May 19, leading to the arrest of the three suspects, aged 26, 29 and 48.
Jimoh said preliminary investigations showed that the group, alongside two suspects still at large, specialised in stealing motorcycles between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. He added that the gang allegedly towed parked motorcycles before forcing open steering locks and manipulating electrical wiring to start the engines.
CliqMetro reports that Police recovered three unregistered Bajaj Boxer motorcycles, one unregistered Daylong motorcycle and one unregistered Lifan motorcycle during the operation.
According to the police, investigations showed that the syndicate had stolen and sold about 50 motorcycles across the Sagamu and Ijebu Ode axis.
Jimoh said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the network and ensure prosecution after investigations are concluded.