The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspected vehicle thieves and recovered four allegedly stolen tricycles as well as a maroon Pontiac car in separate intelligence-driven operations.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the operations involved cooperation between security formations in Kano and neighbouring states.
According to the statement, the first incident was reported on August 4 by a resident, Abubakar Ali, who told the Bompai Police Division that his tricycle had been stolen.
Police said Ali was riding along Hadejia Road when he picked up 23-year-old Muhammad Sani, who appeared to have injuries and had bandages on his hand and leg.
The suspect reportedly asked Ali to stop at a supermarket to buy some items. While Ali was away from the tricycle, Sani allegedly used another key to start the vehicle and drove away.
The police said the report was immediately circulated to neighbouring divisions, leading to Sani’s arrest by officers from the Bichi Police Division.
Further investigation reportedly led detectives to Katsina State, where another alleged member of the syndicate, 33-year-old Aminu Saad, was arrested.
Four tricycles suspected to have been stolen through a similar method were recovered from Saad.
The police said Saad admitted to being a member of the syndicate.
Kiyawa said, “The four recovered tricycles have since been handed over to their rightful owners, while investigation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate.”
In a separate operation, officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested 23-year-old Isah Yusuf, a resident of Titin Jajira, Rijiyar Lemo, Kano.
Yusuf was arrested on July 25 while allegedly in possession of a maroon Pontiac vehicle without a registration number.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he bought the car from Niger Republic through a man identified as Ashiru Mohammed, also known as Mai Gold.
However, further investigation revealed that the vehicle had allegedly been stolen in Taraba State before being transported to Niger Republic, where it was sold to a dealer and later brought back into Nigeria.
The police have urged the rightful owner of the vehicle to contact the Anti-Kidnapping Squad or the office of the Police Public Relations Officer at the Bompai Police Headquarters with valid proof of ownership.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, commended the officers involved in the operations, describing the recoveries as evidence of the importance of intelligence gathering and cooperation among security formations.
Bakori said, “These breakthroughs demonstrate the importance of intelligence-led policing and effective collaboration among our formations, particularly across state boundaries.”
He assured residents that the command would continue its operations under the IGP’s Handshake Patrol strategy to tackle criminal activities.
“We will continue to work with the people of Kano State to identify and dismantle criminal networks operating within the state and its environs,” he added.
The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police promptly.
