For Mbaise people in Imo State, Ifeanyi Nwigwe is
one of the respectable men in the land, hence the
choice of making him the Aku enwe ebe 1 of
Ezinihitte Mbaise (money is not restricted to any
town). But months after he was crowned by the
community, Ifeanyi was arrested in Lagos for
robbery and now cooling his heels in detention.
Saturday Sun gathered that prior to his
installation as the Aku enwe ebe 1 of Ezinihitte
Mbaise, the suspect had been on the wanted list
of the Lagos State police command whose
operatives eventually arrested him along with his
relative, Vincent Emezuem over a armed robbery
incident in the state. Now guests at the Special
Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos, the duo
admitted to having vandalized hundreds of cars in
Lagos and other states.
It was learnt that following intelligence reports on
the activities of car vandals in Lagos, the state
Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko directed
the commander of SARS, Abba Kyari, who
deployed detectives that tracked Ifeanyi down at
ASPAMDA market where he had a shop stocked
with motor spare parts. Realising that the game
was up, the suspect was said to have fled and
resurfaced when he felt the coast was clear.
Unfortunately for him, the detectives, who knew
his modus operandi, caught him in the act in the
Ojo area of Lagos while he was busy doing what
he knows best, car vandalization.
Giving an insight into how he ventured into the
world of crime, the suspect said: “Shortly after I
graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
Owerri, Imo State, my elder brother requested that
I should relocate to Lagos and join him in his
business. He was into auto parts business at
ASPAMDA market, Lagos.
“I learnt the trade for one year and while I was
waiting to raise money and start up my own
shop, I decided to relocate to Ladipo market
where second hand products known as tokunbo
are sold. I joined a group of young men who
served as middle men between customers and the
main dealers. All they do is to source for
customers and refer them to a dealer who has the
product in his shop. You will be paid an agreed
commission for each customer you bring.
“It was while I was in the process that I realised
that most of the goods sold at Ladipo market
were stolen. Reason being that they are sold
cheap to mechanics and customers who decide
to come and pick themselves.”
Desperate and impatient, Ifeanyi decided to cut
corners by learning how to get those cheap
motor parts from the right source. “I discovered
that those who were supplying these stolen motor
spare parts were driving cars and building
houses. I briefly learnt from one Martin, how to
successfully vandalize cars undetected. So,
sometime in 2010, I went into full vandalization.
Initially, our target areas were in big churches
where they park cars carelessly without any
security man ensuring the safety of the cars.
“It was becoming risky, so we started working at
night and I discovered that for every successfully
operation, we will almost leave with a bag full of
motor spare parts. These include motor top
gasket which we normally sell to dealers at the
price of N10,000, N15,000 or even N20,000
depending on the content. Others are side mirrors,
the head lamps and so many other things that
are in hot demand in the market. In Nigeria, there
is much demand for Toyota and Honda products,
so we concentrate on these two brands,” Ifeanyi
further said.
For over three years, Ifeanyi made so much
money and never forgot to extend the proceeds to
family and friends. He also acquired so much
wealth that he was able to start up his business,
by securing a shop at the ASPAMDA market
where brand new motor parts are sold. “God was
on my side and the business flourished. I wanted
to stop stealing; I saved so much money and
rented a shop at ASPAMDA market. I also ordered
a container load of brand new motor spare parts.
“Naturally, when you are making progress, people
will love to associate with you. My community
recognised me because I was so generous. This
has always been my dream to help people better
their lives. In recognition of my contribution to the
progress of my community, I was elected as the
financial secretary of our village meeting.
Impressed by my performance, I was made the
Aku enwe ebe 1 of Ezinihitte Mbaise in 2012.”
Unfortunately, Ifeanyi never knew that his crime
was gradually catching up with him. Hundreds of
his victims reported his activities to the police
hence the manhunt. In 2013, they tracked him
down but he escaped when he learnt that
policemen visited his house and shop. “I had
sincerely stopped stealing when they came for
me. I wanted to hand myself over to the police
but when I learnt that it was SARS, Ikeja, I
decided to run for my life. For months I had
nothing doing and only relied on my savings in
the bank. When it finished, I had no choice but to
return to the business of vandalizing cars.
“I needed to retain my honour in the eyes of my
community so that I will not lose my respect. It
was while on duty (vandalizing a car) on May 11,
2014 that the police arrested me. I am terribly
sorry and I ask for another opportunity to get it
right,” Ifeanyi pleaded.
His accomplice and relation, Vincent, confirmed
his story and begged that they should be
forgiven. “Our own style of robbery is different.
We do not carry guns but instruments that will
assist us to open a car with ease. We also go
along with fireworks, this is necessary to scare
anyone who dares to come close when we are on
duty vandalizing cars. I am a father of three boys
and I wanted to give my children a good life by
sending them to school. Please, forgive us for the
sake of my children,” Vincent said.
[Reported by Saturday Sun]
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