The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a three-man armed robbery syndicate in Kaduna and recovered ten stolen vehicles, in what it describes as a major operational breakthrough.
The suspects — Abubakar Musa, 36; Hassan Umar, 30; and Joshua Raphael, 20 — were apprehended on March 16, 2026, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
According to the police, the principal suspect, Abubakar Musa, is a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army who had been impersonating a serving soldier to avoid detection while carrying out armed robbery operations with his accomplices.
Investigations revealed that the group specialized in stealing vehicles and altering or removing registration details to conceal ownership and evade detection.
Recovered vehicles include 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.
Police said efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen items.
Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling criminal activities and ensuring public safety.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
