Magistrate, Monarch, Journalist lose vehicles as car thieves strike in Umuahia

A Toyota Corolla car belonging to a Magistrate in Abia State, Ngozi Lekwa of Court 2, has reportedly been stolen in Umuahia by car thieves.

The vehicle was packed outside the court premises along Finbars Road by the owner on Tuesday, to handle a brief official duty, but was nowhere to be found by the time the Chief Magistrate returned to the spot at noon.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the case has been reported to the police, stressing that investigations were ongoing to recover the car and apprehend the thieves.

In a related development, a Brown Toyota Sienna car belonging to the wife of the traditional ruler of Nkpa community in Bende LGA, G.N. Izuwa, was on Sunday, stolen at the Assemblies of God Church, Umuahia by unknown persons.

The vehicle was taken away at No. 5-8 Item Street, Umuahia, when the Monarch’s wife, who came to church in the car, was still worshipping inside the church.

Also, the Abia State correspondent of Vanguard newspaper, Steve Oko’s black Toyota Camry car, was also stolen in front of Oko’s residence at Uwalaka Street, Umuahia, a few weeks ago and has not yet been found, among other reports.