By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant operational breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of ten stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
According to an official signed statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, the operation was carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), leading to the arrest of Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20) on March 16, 2026.
The statement revealed that preliminary investigations identified Abubakar Musa as the principal suspect and a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army who allegedly impersonated a serving soldier to evade detection while executing criminal operations alongside his accomplices.
Further investigations indicated that the syndicate specialised in stealing and trafficking vehicles, often tampering with or completely removing registration details to obscure their identity and ownership.
Police operatives recovered ten 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 recovered vehicles were found without registration numbers.
The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover additional stolen items linked to the group.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to intensifying the fight against criminality and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the country.
