Police intercept stolen truck-load of rice

LAGOS State Police Command has intercepted a trailer loaded with 600 bags of rice and diverted by rice stealing syndicates in Lagos.

The syndicate was arrested in Mile 2, Lagos by policemen from the Area Command, FESTAC, following a tip-off.

The Area Commander, Mr. Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, had received an intelligence report on the activities of syndicate that specializes in snatching trailer loaded with rice.

The kingpin, one Babatunde Omoh, was arrested at Mile 2 while of-loading the rice, some days ago, at about 8pm from a loaded Mack truck with registration number: BDG 524 XH, containing 600 bags of rice.

Mba said: “The trailer had earlier loaded at Apapa Wharf and was heading to its final destination at a warehouse in Agboju area, when the driver, currently at large, working in collaboration with other criminal elements, diverted the trailer to Mile 2 Estate. Whilst the gang members were busy off-loading the bags of rice, Police Operatives from Area ‘E’ Command, FESTEC Town, acting on a tip-off, swooped on them, arresting the suspects and recovering the truck and its contents to Area ‘E’ Command office.”

While expressing concern over increasing cases of diversion of trailers and containers from Nigerian ports, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, advised haulage companies to strengthen internal checks and controls within their companies to reduce the rate of collusion between their staff and external criminals.

He commended the personnel of the FESTAC Area Command for the timely intervention that led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the diverted truck.

It was gathered that the affected truck together with the 600 bags of rice has been released to the owners – H. Safieddine Transport Company Limited. But the principal suspect, Babatunde moh and others will be charged to court.