The Kano State Police Command has recovered two stolen vehicles and a CNG-powered tricycle in separate operations carried out over the past two weeks as part of its crackdown on car snatching and tricycle theft syndicates operating within and beyond the state.
The recoveries were announced in a press statement on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the first recovery involved a Pontiac Vibe with registration number KMC-175CU, valued at N12 million.
The vehicle was stolen from the owner’s residence in Darmanawa Quarters, Kano, at about 3:00am on May 3, 2026.
Acting on community intelligence, operatives of the Surveillance Team attached to Tarauni Area Command spotted the car parked suspiciously in the same area later that evening.
The owner was traced through the vehicle documents, and the car was returned to him on bond. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In the second case, a 2004 Toyota Corolla LE stolen from Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Wuse, Abuja, on April 22, 2026, was recovered at Darmanawa Layout in Tarauni Local Government Area.
The Command’s Special Intervention Squad (SIS) acted on credible intelligence and located the ash-coloured vehicle on April 23.
Police said the identity and modus of the thieves had been established, while efforts continue to arrest the suspect and recover additional exhibits.
The third operation led to the recovery of a yellow CNG-powered tricycle stolen along Mararraban Jos in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on May 1, 2026.
The victim, Bashir Abdulhakim, was reportedly poisoned by the thieves before they fled towards Kano. SIS operatives intercepted the tricycle along Kano’s Ring Road on May 3 and arrested three suspects: Umar Rabi’u, 32, of Kofar Dawanau; Yahaya Hannafi, 20, of Tudun Murtala; and Amina Muhammad, 21, of Sheka Quarters.
The suspects are assisting with investigations, while police work to arrest the alleged receiver of the stolen tricycle.
At a brief handover ceremony at the Command Headquarters in Bompai, the owners of the recovered vehicles and tricycle thanked the police for their swift and professional handling of the cases.
They praised the use of technology, community policing, and inter-command collaboration, noting that the recoveries were achieved without extortion or delay.
CP Bakori commended the Tarauni Area Commander, the SIS team, and other officers for their diligence and intelligence-led approach.
He also acknowledged the role of community leaders and sister security agencies in providing timely information.
The Commissioner warned criminal elements to desist from crime, stating that the police would continue to dominate public spaces and deny criminals freedom of action.
He urged residents to install tracking devices in vehicles, avoid parking in isolated areas, and report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
