Operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested an alleged member of a five-man gang that specializes in stealing tricycle, popularly known as ‘keke Napep’, and motorcycles in the Lagos metropolis.

The suspect, Ekene Chukwuan, was arrested after he and four other members of his gang broke into an apartment at 49, Falana Street, Iyana-Ejigbo Lagos, and carted away with one tricycle and one motorcycle at around 2:00 am.

Ekene, native of Enugu State, told the police during interrogation about how he was introduced into motorcycle and tricycle stealing business by his mentor named ‘Alhaji’.

Ekene in his statement to the Police claimed, “we sell stolen Keke Napep between N75,000 to N80,000, while motorcycles are sold between N30,000 to N40,000.”

The owner of the motorcycle, Nduka Oyekachi Innocent, who was alerted of the theft and invited to RRS Office, said “I parked my tricycle in my compound at 49, Falana Street, Iyana-Ejigbo, and went to bed.

Nduka, 31, noted that he wept like a baby on discovering that his keke was missing because he got the keke on hire-purchase from a businessman. He was to repay the sum of N1,000,000 within a period of one and half year according to the hire-purchase agreement he signed.

He explained further that, the businessman gave him the keke in February 2017 which he had just repaid N220,000 out the N1,000,000.

Recovered from the suspect were iron cutter, tricycle and motorcycle.

The suspect has been transferred to the Lagos Police State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.