By our Reporter
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a Toyota Hilux stolen in Abuja following a swift operation by operatives of the Maitama Police Division.
The Command said the suspect was apprehended in Kaduna State just hours after the vehicle was stolen from the Wuse II area of the nation’s capital.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the breakthrough followed a distress call received at about 1:45 p.m. on June 20, 2026, by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Maitama Division, CSP Altine Daniel, reporting the theft of a white 2014 Toyota Hilux with registration number BWR 712 CV.
The complainant informed the police that the vehicle had been parked around 1:30 p.m. before it was discovered missing approximately four minutes later. An unidentified individual was reportedly seen driving the vehicle away.
Responding immediately, CSP Daniel led a team of operatives to the scene and directed that all police formations and checkpoints along entry and exit routes within the FCT commence coordinated stop-and-search operations to intercept the stolen vehicle.
The Command said the operation was further enhanced with the use of digital tracking technology, which enabled officers to trace the vehicle to Kubacha in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The stolen Hilux was successfully recovered at about 3:30 p.m. on the same day, while one suspect was arrested in connection with the theft.
Police said both the suspect and the recovered vehicle are currently in custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify any accomplices.
Commending the operatives for their prompt response, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, urged residents to remain vigilant and adopt proactive measures to safeguard their vehicles and other valuables.
He advised vehicle owners to install functional tracking devices, avoid leaving valuables unattended inside their vehicles, and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the FCT Police Command’s emergency lines.
The statement reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and sustaining intelligence-led policing across the Federal Capital Territory.
