Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have intercepted a syndicate that allegedly diverted a truck carrying a 40ft container loaded with 608 pieces of Elimax generators and 2,900grinding engines worth N9.7million.
Five members of the gang arrested are: Onyebuchi Okeke, 30, Sunday Chukwuwike 28, Onyebuchi Ede 30, Sopuluchukwu Eze, 30, Sunday Nwachukwu, 35, while one Ozor is still at large.
The goods according to sources belonged to Sylveohemma Petroleum Limited, Apapa, Lagos, and was diverted by the gang on December 22, 2017.
Following a petition submitted to the office of Inspector General of Police on December 23, 2017 by the company’s clearing agent, Nickson Budu , the IRT’s Commander, Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was asked to fish out the culprits.
The special squad subsequently arrested the driver and the truck conductor at Nkwere, Anambra State while they were negotiating with the receiver.
The buyers were also apprehended and all the suspects have since confessed to the crime.
Confessing, the truck’s conductor, Chukwuwike said: ”l am the motor boy. I am from Ihiala, Anambra State. It was the driver that brought the idea to divert the container and make fast money on the 23rd December 2017 at Tin Can Island at about 8.00pm when we were to take the container to Abuluchu in Festac area of Lagos but on the way we diverted the truck to Ikorodu.
In his confession, Okeke said: ” Yes, I brought the idea to divert the container. We later took the container to Nkwere in Anambra State, where the receiver collected part payment from buyers which is N430,000 and gave us(the money). Four of us namely Onyebuchi, Sunday, the other Sunday and Ozor who is still at large shared the money. We and the buyers negotiated N25,000, N14,000, N17,500 for some of the stolen goods which are giveaway prices.”
Ede said: ” the only role I played was to provide my house as the warehouse where the goods were off- loaded. I am from Nkanu, Enugu State. I am a primary six certificate holder. They promised to pay me N200,000. When I saw that there were enough goods in the container that would fetch me more money I decided to join the gang.”
Sopuluchukwu said: ”I am from Nkanu East, Enugu state. I used to do well in my business. I used to deal on men wears and I used to make #80,000 monthly but recession came and it affected my business. When my friend Nwachukwu called me and told me about the deal I jumpED for it. I will blame the devil also.”
Eze recalled his role in the crime saying: ” They asked me to look for a safe place to off- load the stolen goods. I called my brother Ede and he helped to provide his house because he has enough space in his house. I was also interested in buying the goods.
”We contributed money for advance payment. I gave them #210, 000, Sopuluchukwu brought N250,000 plus the initial N100,000 I gave them. The total money collected for part payment was N510,000.”
Police sources said about 120,000 pieces of the stolen goods have been recovered while the remaining are still to be recovered from the gang members house in Nkwere which was used as warehouse.
The sources further revealed that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded and that the gang member Ozor who is still at
