The Nigeria Police Force has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against organised crime, following the arrest of three suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of 10 stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
The operation, carried out by the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), led to the arrest of Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20) on March 16, 2026.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, on Friday.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations identified Musa as the principal suspect and a dismissed corporal of the Nigerian Army.
He allegedly impersonated a serving soldier to evade law enforcement while coordinating robbery operations with his accomplices.
First Daily correspondent learnt that the syndicate specialised in stealing vehicles and altering or removing registration details to conceal their origin and ownership, making detection more difficult.
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During the operation, officers recovered 10 vehicles of different makes, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda model, a Lexus car, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV. Several of the vehicles were found without registration numbers, further suggesting deliberate efforts to obscure their identities.
Police say efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the gang who remain at large and to recover additional stolen property.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism and dedication.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to tackling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the country.