The Police Force has arrested three suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate in Kaduna in a significant breakthrough in its fight against violent crime.
10 stolen vehicles were also recovered during the operation
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, who confirmed the arrest, said the operation was carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad, who apprehended the suspects Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20) on March 16, 2026.
Police report said preliminary investigations identified Abubakar Musa, a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army, is the principal suspect.
He reportedly impersonated a serving soldier to evade arrest while coordinating robbery operations alongside his accomplices.
Further findings revealed that thea syndicate specialised in stealing and trafficking vehicles, frequently tampering with or removing registration details to conceal the vehicles’ identities and ownership.
During the operation, police recovered 10 vehicles of different 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.
Police Authorities said efforts are on to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen property.
In his reaction, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the commitment of the police to tackling criminal activities and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the country.
