by Jewel Stephen

The Lagos State police command on Thursday paraded four armed robbery suspects, including an ex-Liberian international footballer, Moses Andre. Lagos State commissioner of police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, stated that the gang specialises in snatching cars in Lagos. He said the gang was arrested following a thorough investigation by the police.

”I received information that suspected car snatchers were terrorising residents in the state. I directed the officer-in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abba Kyari, a superintendent of police, to go all out after the hoodlums.

”SARS operatives deployed cutting edge technology, intensive surveillance and aggressive patrol and arrested the suspects that specializes in snatching and selling of cars.

”Following interrogation, the police recovered 15 stolen vehicles by the syndicate from different location including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Benin City.

”SARS operatives also arrested one Abayomi Adebayo, who is notorious for changing of engine and chassis numbers of stolen vehicles. The operatives also recovered instruments used for forging these fake engine/chassis numbers; including already prepared engine/chassis numbers were recovered from the suspect”

The police boss gave a breakdown of the vehicles recovered. They include nine Toyota cars, two Mitsubishi, two Nissan and two Honda cars.

“I would like to reiterate the command’s resolve to engage the issue of crime and criminality wholistically. I assure residents of a crime free state under my watch,” Aderanti said.

Andre, one of the suspects, blamed bad friends for his alleged involvement in crime.

“I have played the AFCON 2010 qualifier match between my country and Angola. I came to Nigeria to play for a club side, but my friend Nana from Ghana who is based in Nigeria lured me into crime. I served as the gang’s driver and my job stopped as soon as I delivered the stolen cars from the scene of robbery to one Israel Nana, a member of the gang from Ghana. Nana was the one who lured me into crime. I regret my action.”

YEditor