Troops Smash Car Snatching Syndicate Shielded By Security Agency
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN, have quashed the activities of a car snatching syndicate in Jos, Plateau State.
The Division’s Media Information Officer, OPSH, Maj. Samson Zhakom,
disclosed this on Tuesday.
According to him, troops, while on patrol around the Federal Low-Cost Estate in Jos South Local Government Area on Monday 28 April 2025, intercepted a grey OPEL VECTRA car with 2 occupants at Lalong Gate of the Estate.
Upon sighting troops, the driver attempted to make a detour and escape but was immediately stopped by the troops.
“However, while questioning the occupants of the car, the driver attempted to zoom off and overrun the patrol motorcycle of the troops, who acted swiftly neutralizing the driver of the vehicle”, Zhakom said.
The surviving suspect, during preliminary questioning, confessed that they are armed robbers who specialize in snatching vehicles, adding that he returned to Jos from Katsina State only the day before for car snatching activities.
During a search conducted on the vehicle, troops recovered one identity card of a security agency used by the criminals to evade security checks and some car master keys used in opening cars of their victims.
Follow-up operations at the hideout of the suspects at Corner Shagari Angwan Rogo in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, led to the recovery of one fabricated pistol from the ceiling of the hideout.
The suspect also volunteered to lead troops to the hideout of another accomplice in the same vicinity. However, while leading troops to the hideout, the suspect made a daring attempt to disarm one of the soldiers in order to effect his escape but troops acted swiftly and neutralised the suspect in the process.
“Troops are conducting operations to identify and apprehend other accomplices of the criminal syndicate”, Zhakom stated, adding that
“Operation SAFE HAVEN is intensifying efforts to clamp down on all forms of criminals and ensure the general area is safe for law-abiding residents”.
