By Vincent Ekpo
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against crime with the arrest of three suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of 10 stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
The operation was carried out by the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS). Confirming the development on Friday, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, said the suspects—Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20)—were apprehended on March 16, 2026, in Kaduna.
According to him, preliminary investigations identified Abubakar Musa as the ringleader, noting that he is a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army who allegedly posed as a serving soldier to evade arrest while carrying out criminal activities with his accomplices.
Further findings revealed that the syndicate specialised in stealing and trafficking vehicles, often tampering with 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 found without registration numbers.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang 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.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.