Police arrest suspect who ‘steals cars in Nigeria, sells in Niger Republic’

The Kaduna police command says its operatives have arrested a suspect, Mubarak Kabiru, for selling vehicles stolen from Nigeria in the Niger Republic.

In a statement on Friday, Mansir Hassan, the police spokesperson in Kaduna, said Kabiru was arrested after a tip-off from a good samaritan at about 6:30 pm on May 27.

“An individual reported that he was requested to assist in collecting a Lexus LX 470 Jeep from a mechanic,” the statement reads.

Hassan said the good samaritan suspected the car to be stolen and reported the case at the Magaji Gari police station in Kaduna.

“A search was conducted, leading to the discovery of the vehicle particulars bearing the name of the owner, along with his contact number,” the police spokesperson said.

“When contacted, the owner recounted that the car was snatched from him at gunpoint by five armed men at his residence in Utako, Abuja.”

Hassan said the operatives were mobilised to where they recovered the vehicle and arrested the suspect along the Alkali road in Kaduna.

“A search of his room at the Ishacool Hotel, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, resulted in the recovery of an anti-tracking jammer,” he said.

Hassan said the suspect explained that he had been using the jammer to avoid tracking the stolen vehicles.

The police spokesperson added that the suspect confessed during interrogation that he was working under the directive of one Daud, his boss, from the Niger Republic.

Hassan added that the suspect also confessed to transporting vehicles from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Abuja to the neighbouring country.

“These vehicles were then taken to border towns through Sokoto and Katsina and sold in the Niger Republic,” the police spokesperson said.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices.”

Hassan added that the suspect has been transferred to the state criminal investigation department (SCID) for further investigations.