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By Godwin Utuedoye,
UGHELLI- Residents of Ughelli town in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, have decried the new wave of car theft and other crimes in the town and called on security agents to beef up security in order to curb the menace of hoodlums terrorising innocents residents.
Chief Omoduemuke Vincent of No. 13, Awotoruvwe Street, Emekpa-Ughelli narrated how his Toyota Camry with Reg. No. UGH 189 AE, Engine No. 5S058160 and Chasis No. JT2BG22K0029092 was stolen from his compound at the wee hour of Tuesday, July 3, 2018 to our correspondents. He said, the car was parked inside his compound, and that for the fear of his previous experienced, he decided to move out the battery before going to bed.
He further added that, previously, the hoodlums had invaded his compound and made efforts to steal his Camry car, but disclosed he had a premonition of it. “I was having a sensation that day due to some suspected movements of unknown faces in the area, so i remove the battery from the car”. According to Chief Omoduemuke, the robbers made several efforts that proved abortive and out of seemingly frustration, they stole his spare tyre, but unlucky for his this time, the hoodlums came along with a battery and made away with the car and as well stole another Toyota Corolla ‘X’ from the neighbours compound.
As at the time of filing in this report, the incident has been reported at the ‘B’ Division of the Nigerian Police, Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area but no information has been received as to were the car can be recovered.
It could be recalled that recently, a popular mobile phone accessories dealer in Ughelli was shot dead by men of the underworld before carting away with his new car. While in early March this year, a group of four robberry gang that specialised in car snatching were said to be arrested by the police after snatching a Toyota Camry belonging to one Mr. Augustine Atake at Ekuigbo-Ughelli under gun point, but luck later ran against them when in the following day, as they were about snatching another Toyota Corrolla, they were apprehended. According to a reliable source, the robbers later confessed to stealing the Toyota Camry before leading police men to the point of sale in Warri.
Our correspondent who went into town to confirm the alleged increase in crime rate in Ughelli was astonished when he was informed about pockets of criminal activities in Ughelli especially in this 2018.
An annonymous source told our correspondent that a primary three pupil of Zion City Foundation School Ughelli, Avworukayen Tejiri, 9, was taken hostage as his father whom some suspected armed robbers operating on motorbike trailed to his house, miraculously escaped from them. According to the source, upon entering the house, they demanded the car keys but in the guise of lokking for the keys, the man escaped, angered by the twist of things, they took the young boy for a ransom.
Findings further revealed that child has been released just last week but it could not be confirmed if a ransom was paid before the child was released. The boy was said to have resumed school on July 2, 2018 after spending a week in the hand of his captors.
Another incident of car theft happened on Saturday, July 30, 2018 when a Toyota RAV 4, Light Gold in colour with Reg. No. APP 646 BK, that was parked along Onoharigho street off Makolomi street in Ughelli was stolen. Until the time of filing this report, the car has not been recovered.
At Oseri street, a car that was parked was also stolen before it was later recovered due to a tracker that was said to be installed in the car.
Other sources revealed that there are other instances of robbery in different areas in the town and called on the relevant authority to do something about the upsurge before it get out of hand.
Residents are appealing to government and the state commissioner of police to tightened the security situation in Ughelli.
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