Soldiers Nab Syndicate Specialising In Hijacking Loaded Trailers

A seven-member robbery
syndicate which allegedly
specialized in hijacking trailers
loaded with goods that they
eventually sell in Niger Republic
has been arrested by soldiers at
the boundary town between Ekiti
and Kogi States.
The suspects prefer trailers loaded
with building materials, provisions,
motor spare parts, electronic gadgets
and other goods worth millions of
naira.
Their godfather, who stays in Sokoto,
according to reports, used to sell the
goods and the trailers across the
Nigerien border.
Commander of the Internal Security
outfit in the 32 Artillery Brigade in
Akure, Ondo State, Col Muhammed
Zubairu, said the suspects who were
paraded, yesterday, have confessed
to the crime of hijacking of trailers
loaded with goods worth several
millions of Naira.
Items recovered from them included
locally made revolvers, rounds of
97.62mm loaded, locally made
pistols with cartridges, single barrel
guns, 16 rounds of cartridges, empty
shells of catridges, ATM cards, seven
telephone sets, charms and hamlets,
voters cards, drivers licences, indian
hemp and masks among others.
The suspects include Abdulfatai
Olawale, Gbenga Jacobs, Segun
Olanrewaju, Godwin Attah,
Abdulazeez Isah, Okwudili Uwa and
Michael James.
According to Zubairu, the suspects
confessed that they had a godfather,
Alhaji Bello, who after a successful
operation ensured that the trailers
and the goods were transported to
Niger Republic where a ready buyer
would be waiting.
The leader of the syndicate who
drives the hijacked trailers, Segun
Olanrewaju, said he met the Alhaji
once and had been communicating
with him thereafter, adding that their
shares after any business are paid
directly into his account.
Zubairu told newsmen that the
internal security outfit was put in
place following the security threat in
the country hence the soldiers
mounted a check point at the border
Omu-Oke in Ekiti state and Iyamoye
in Kogi state.
He said that the suspects after
regrouping for the operation were
arrested at a drinking joint and upon
a search the dangerous weapons
were recovered from their vehicle
marked BS 985AGL, a Toyota Station
Wagon at Omu-oke.
Zubairu said that they left Abuja for
Kogi state where they intended to
hijack a trailer before nemesis caught
up with them when they decided to
take some Bottles of beer before
going for the operation.
He said his men saw them and
trailed them to the drinking joint and
when they were search the
incriminating items were found in
their vehicle.
During interview the suspects
confessed that they were working for
one Alhaji Bello who they have never
met except their leader who met him
once.
The Commander of the internal
security outfit said that the suspects
will be handed over to the Police
authorities in Ekiti State.