Nigeria: How We Steal Vehicles, Dismantle, Sell As Spare Parts in Other States - Suspect

20 January 2025

A 38-year-old leader of a syndicate that specialises in stealing cars, Rotimi Akinsanoye, has narrated how they steal vehicles in Ondo state, dismantle them and sell them as spare parts in other states.

Rotimi, who was paraded by the Ondo state police command, in Akure, the state capital, confessed that he had stolen seven cars this month and moved them out of the state.

The suspect was paraded alongside his cohort, Waheed Adekanbi, nicknamed Elubo

In an interview, the suspect, said that the vehicles were stolen from parks where they were parked by their owners.

According to him "the vehicles we removed from where we're parked includes: Two (2) Toyota Camry Popularly known as tiny light, one Honda CRV car, two (2) Toyota Corolla 2003 and 2005 model, 2 Toyota Corolla.

" Five out of the stolen cars were butchered and sold as spare parts in Lagos.

Speaking on their arrest, the state police commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, said that " a case of car theft at Oke Aro, Akure, was reported to the Police, the vehicle was flagged down at the Licensing office.

" Two weeks ago, the vehicle was presented for registration at the Licensing office and the Police was alerted.

" The man who came to register the car claimed he purchased the vehicle in Lagos at the rate of N4.3million from a car Dealer by the name Temidayo Folajimi 'M' age 43 years who led the police to one Rotimi Akinsanoye 'm' age 38years.

"During interrogation, Rotimi confessed that he is the mastermind behind most vehicles stolen (removal from Parks).

"Two of the vehicles have been recovered while others have been destroyed.

"Waheed Adekanbi 'm' age 51 years is in custody, helping the police with the necessary information needed to confirm the veracity of the claim that the remaining vehicles have been destroyed and sold as spare parts.

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