"Financial Hardship Pushed Me Into Car Snatching" -- Suspect Says

Ani who claimed to be studying Accounting on a part time basis in one of the tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt, told newsmen when he was paraded by the police, that although he was a member of a non-governmental organization, he took to crime to raise money to feed.

Twelve vehicles, all Toyota brands, which were snatched from motorist in River State, were recovered by the police from Ani, who the State Police Command also identified as an ex-convict, and his suspected accomplice, Andrew Atuse.

According to him "I went into car robbery because of hardship and the devil pushed me into it. When we snatch the vehicles, we give it to him pointing at the fake soldier because he always posed as a soldier. We snatched majority of cars in Port Harcourt. We snatched some of the vehicles at gunpoint while others were taken away where parked with master keys. The military man (fake soldier) carries the cars. It is the Army man that brought us into this business. Like I said, when we collect the cars, we give it to him (pointing at the fake soldier). I am undergraduate."

His accomplice, Andrew Atuse, who claimed that the identification card and the Army cap he used in parading himself as a soldier were given to him by a soldier, said he usually received stolen vehicles from Ani and sold them.

"Atuse said, "the first car that snatched after I was introduced to them (the gang), I bought the vehicle from them and resold it. One soldier assisted me by doing the Army ID card for me. He (soldier) also gave me a military cap. The last time I saw him was over a year ago. I don't know how they got their guns. I have stolen eight vehicles on my own"