THE Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a car theft syndicate operating around the Ada George area of Port Harcourt.
The arrests followed a complaint by a police officer attached to the Federal Road Safety Corps, who reported his vehicle stolen. A special police team was immediately assigned to investigate.
Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday.
She said the investigative team not only arrested the suspects but also recovered the stolen vehicle from the individual who had purchased it. She added that efforts were ongoing to track down other accomplices.
According to her, the operation marked a significant breakthrough in the Command’s fight against car theft and organised crime.
She revealed that on November 7, 2025, a joint team from the Electronic Central Motor Registry and the Special Operations and Intelligence Team recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla (Reg. No. PHC 626 TX; Engine No. IZZ997375; Chassis No. 2T1BR32E44C280137) and arrested three suspects linked to its suspicious sale.
Iringe-Koko explained that the case began after an FRSC officer lodged a complaint and presented all relevant documents, including proof of ownership.
Verification later showed that the car belonged to Prof. Karibo Bagshaw and had been stolen from his daughter in December 2024 by their former Bolt driver.
She identified the suspects as Port Harcourt residents: Christian Ihuigwe, John Ebus, and Barnabas. She said they, along with the recovered exhibits, had been transferred to the Special Investigation Department for further forensic analysis.
She noted that the police were intensifying efforts to arrest other accomplices still on the run, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted once investigations were concluded.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the officers for their diligence and restated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property. He urged residents to continue providing credible information to support crime-fighting efforts.
This is coming just a week after the Command arrested two other car-snatching suspects and recovered two stolen vehicles in another intelligence-led operation.