Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate in Kaduna, Recover 10 Stolen Vehicles
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant operational success following the arrest of a three-man armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of ten stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
The operation, carried out by the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), led to the apprehension of the suspects on 16 March 2026 in Kaduna. The arrested individuals have been identified as Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspect, Abubakar Musa, is a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army. He was reportedly impersonating a serving soldier to evade security detection while coordinating armed robbery operations alongside his accomplices.
Security sources further disclosed that the syndicate specialized in vehicle theft and trafficking, often altering or completely removing registration details to obscure ownership and facilitate illicit movement of stolen cars across locations.
During the operation, officers recovered ten vehicles of various brands, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla sedans, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda model, a Lexus saloon car, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV. Several of the recovered vehicles were found without registration plates.
Investigations are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, as well as recover additional stolen assets linked to their operations.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism and operational effectiveness. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining the fight against violent crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the country.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, psc(+), mni, issued the statement from Force Headquarters, Abuja, on 24 April 2026.
By TimesNG