Operatives of Rivers state police command have paraded 26 suspects arrested for alleged car theft in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this on Wednesday during the parade of the suspects, including their juju priest, identified as Ugochukwu Onuigbo, at the Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Narrating how they were arrested, the commissioner said the gang, led by the leader, Chidozie Anthony Onyekwe, took most of the stolen cars to Kano and Anambra, where they were dismantled and sold as scrap.

The commissioner said, “For some time now we have noticed that a lot of cars were being stolen and some robbed in town and we tasked officers of our tactical team and our investigators to move into it.

“Today, I am very happy to inform you that about 26 suspects who specialise in stealing vehicles them have been arrested. Our greatest joy is the arrest of Chidozie Anthony Onyekwe and Kelechi Igwe.

“Chidozie is the leader of persons who come into Rivers State to steal cars. Not only does he come in here, he trains his men well. He is linked to all the suspects here who have been arrested before for this same offence of stealing cars.

“At the same time, Kelechi Igwe is an expert at removing trackers from vehicles. Almost all the vehicles stolen from Rivers State must pass through Kelechi for him to remove the trackers for them. He’s also a wonderful mechanic,” the commissioner added.