Major Crackdown: Police Bust Robbery Syndicate, Recover 10 Vehicles in Kaduna
By Kevin Stella Kita
The Nigeria Police Force, through the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three notorious armed robbery suspects and the recovery of ten stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
The suspects — Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20) — were apprehended on March 16, 2026, in Kaduna following a targeted operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspect, Abubakar Musa, is a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army who allegedly impersonated a serving soldier to evade detection while carrying out criminal operations with his accomplices.
Further findings indicate that the syndicate specialized in stealing and trafficking vehicles, often altering or removing registration details to conceal their identity and ownership.
The operation led to the recovery of ten vehicles of various brands, 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.
Investigations are ongoing to track down fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen items.
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 combating crime and ensuring the safety of lives and property nationwide.
