Suspected Car-Snatcher Confesses to Earning ₦90,000 From Each Operation

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

A suspected member of a notorious car-snatching gang, Chinedu Onwuka, has confessed to earning a token share of ninety thousand naira (₦90,000) from one of the gang’s operations, even as police operatives recently burst their criminal syndicate, rescued a kidnapped truck driver, and recovered a stolen vehicle.

The laudable rescue and arrest occurred on May 11, 2025, around 3 p.m., following swift action by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command attached to the Ozalla Division, working in close synergy with Neighbourhood Watch personnel.

According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the gang had posed as legitimate customers seeking to transport bags of sand. And they hired the unsuspecting driver of a Daihatsu Hijet mini truck—popularly known as “Diana”—from Ogbete in Enugu metropolis, and directed him to convey the bags of sand to Umuatuaboma in Nkanu West Local Government Area.

However, upon getting to a desolate spot along the Umuatuaboma–Obuofia Road, the syndicate turned on the driver at gunpoint, diverted the truck into a nearby bush, and cruelly tied him to a tree before fleeing with his vehicle.

Luck, however, ran out on the gang when police operatives responded promptly to the incident. In the ensuing operation, 35-year-old Chinedu Onwuka was apprehended, while his accomplices escaped. The victim was rescued from the bush uninjured, though visibly shaken, and the stolen truck was also successfully recovered.

According to the Police Spokesman, during interrogation, Onwuka confessed to being an active participant in the criminal act. And he admitted to having been involved in a similar operation the previous month, for which he received ₦90,000 as his share from the illegal sale of another hijacked mini truck.

SP Ndukwe further noted that investigation is still ongoing, as police are tracking down the fleeing members of the syndicate.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who expressed concern over the incident, warned that the Command will not relent in its campaign against unrepentant criminals threatening the safety and livelihoods of innocent citizens.

While commending the operatives for their swift and effective response, CP Giwa also issued a strong advisory to truck and mini truck operators across the state, urging them to exercise heightened vigilance and discretion when accepting transportation jobs, especially from unknown persons and to unfamiliar destinations, as criminals now exploit perceived business transactions to lure and attack drivers.

The Command also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Enugu State, and encouraged citizens to report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest police station.