By our Reporter
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major operational success with the arrest of three suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of 10 stolen vehicles in Kaduna.
The operation was carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad, leading to the arrest of Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20) on March 16, 2026.
Preliminary investigations identified Abubakar Musa as the principal suspect, who was found to be a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army. Police said he had been impersonating a serving soldier to evade arrest while carrying out criminal operations with his accomplices.
Further findings revealed that the syndicate specialised in stealing and trafficking vehicles, often altering or removing registration details to conceal their identity and ownership.
The police recovered 10 vehicles of different brands during the operation, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda vehicle, a Lexus car, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV. Several of the vehicles were recovered without registration numbers.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen items.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling criminal activities and safeguarding lives and property across the country.
