•The suspects – Chigozie Uba and Onyeka Emordi
The prospect of making as much as N100,000 from a single operation lasting barely 10 minutes was reportedly one of the attractions that drew members of a suspected vehicle vandalism syndicate into the crime in Lagos.
Two suspected members of the gang, 46-year-old Chigozie Uba and 37-year-old Onyeka Emordi, arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, have allegedly revealed how the syndicate targeted vehicles and removed valuable components for sale in the spare parts market.
The suspects allegedly specialised in vandalising Toyota Corolla, Sienna and Hilux vehicles, removing components such as brain boxes, push-button machines, pigeon holes and air-conditioning vents, reports Saturday Independent.
They reportedly focused on vehicles parked along roadsides or those temporarily abandoned by owners after mechanical breakdowns.
In their accounts to investigators, the suspects allegedly disclosed that the speed at which the operations were carried out made the crime attractive, with Uba claiming that his share from some operations sometimes reached N100,000.
Uba, a former spare parts dealer, was arrested at a hotel in Ijesha area of Lagos, where he said he had been staying for about four months.
He allegedly told investigators that he had been involved in vehicle vandalism for about 10 years after the demolition of his spare parts shop at Papa Ajao Auto Spare Parts Market affected his ability to provide for his family.
According to him, he later began working as a “baranda” at Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, Mushin, where he helped customers source vehicle parts from different shops.
It was allegedly through this activity that he met a man identified as Oba, whom he described as the leader of the syndicate.
Uba reportedly said, “I complained to Oba about my financial challenges and my inability to adequately provide for my wife and three children. It was during this period that he introduced me to vehicle vandalism.
“The business became a means of making money because we could quickly remove valuable vehicle components and sell them.”
He further disclosed that a vandalised brain box could be sold for about N40,000, while a push-button machine could fetch about N10,000.
“There were days when I got N100,000 as my share, and there were also times when I got less than that,” he reportedly said.
Ten Minutes To Strip A Vehicle
For motorists, perhaps the most disturbing revelation from the suspects’ accounts is the alleged speed with which the gang operated.
Police sources said the suspects could remove valuable components from vehicles within about 10 minutes, leaving cars parked by the roadside or temporarily abandoned after breakdowns vulnerable to attack.
The gang allegedly operated mostly at night, with members living in different parts of Lagos converging before moving to selected locations.
Uba reportedly said members of the syndicate did not live together but came together whenever they wanted to carry out operations.
Emordi, who was also arrested, allegedly gave investigators a similar account of the group’s activities.
The 37-year-old Delta State indigene said he previously worked as a casual driver at a flour mill in Lagos before he lost his job.
He claimed that after becoming unemployed, he struggled to survive and later began spending time at Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, where he was allegedly introduced to vehicle vandalism in 2022 by one of the customers he encountered.
He reportedly said his first operation took place at a mechanic workshop around Isolo area of Lagos, where he was allegedly taught how to remove a vehicle’s brain box and push-button machine.
“We later concentrated on Toyota Sienna, Corolla and Hilux vehicles, especially those parked along roadsides or left unattended after breaking down,” he reportedly told investigators.
Spare Parts Market Link
The accounts of the two suspects allegedly point to the role played by contacts within the spare parts market in introducing some members into the criminal network.
Both suspects reportedly had links to Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, though they gave different accounts of how they became involved in the alleged crime.
Uba said he moved to Ladipo after the demolition of his shop at Papa Ajao and initially worked as someone who helped customers source vehicle parts.
It was allegedly during this period that he met Oba, who later introduced him to vandalism.
Emordi, on the other hand, said he entered the trade after losing his job and was introduced to the activity by a customer at Ladipo Market.
Investigators believe the suspects allegedly exploited their knowledge of vehicle components and access to the spare parts network to identify parts that could be removed quickly and sold.
Fake Gun To Scare Victims
While the gang allegedly relied on speed to carry out its operations, Emordi also disclosed how members allegedly dealt with people who confronted them.
He denied that the syndicate used firearms during operations.
Instead, he allegedly said members carried a Mercedes-Benz jack which looked like a gun and was used to intimidate people who challenged them while they were allegedly vandalising vehicles.
The revelation, according to investigators, adds another dimension to the alleged activities of the group, as the object was reportedly used to create fear and enable members to escape when confronted.
Emordi said members of the syndicate lived in different parts of Lagos.
He reportedly identified his own location as Ajegunle, while Oba stayed in Igbo Elerin and Uba in Ijesha.
According to him, members initially met around Festac before moving towards areas such as Egbeda and Agege in search of vehicles they could target.
Police Investigation Continues
Uba’s arrest reportedly followed efforts by police operatives to trace him to the hotel in Ijesha where he had been staying.
The suspect said he initially paid N10,000 for accommodation before the amount was increased to N15,000 after renovation work was carried out at the hotel.
He reportedly said he was surprised when police officers arrived to arrest him, adding that he only understood the reason for his arrest after arriving at the police facility and seeing Emordi already in custody.
He subsequently agreed to cooperate with investigators, according to police sources.
The arrest of the two suspects has reportedly provided investigators with information about other alleged members of the syndicate, including the person identified by the suspects as Oba.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrests and said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the group.
Adebisi warned suspected criminals operating in the state to desist from criminal activities or face arrest and prosecution.
She said the Lagos State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani, remained committed to tackling criminal activities across the state.
For motorists, however, the suspects’ revelations highlight the vulnerability of vehicles left unattended, especially those parked along isolated roads or temporarily abandoned after mechanical faults.
