The Rivers State police detained a witch doctor and 25 other suspects believed to be part of a car theft gang responsible for 79 stolen vehicles.
During a press briefing, Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu confirmed the seizure of a shrine allegedly used by the witch doctor to empower the criminals.
The police chief highlighted Chidube, Anthony, and Kelechi, a car mechanic, as key figures in the car-snatching ring. Chidube trains his cohorts in car theft and has ties to all arrested suspects, while Kelechi specializes in disabling trackers.
The stolen cars, mostly destined for Kano and Anambra, were often pilfered using spare keys.
The syndicate’s witch doctor, responsible for advising on safe operations, has been apprehended, alongside a group of armed robbers who targeted bank customers.
Since January 2023, they’ve stolen over 40 cars, often from parking lots. The vehicles are either sold or dismantled for parts in Onitsha’s Mgbuka-Obosi scrap yard.