The Kano State Police Command has recovered four stolen motor vehicles and handed them over to their respective owners following a series of intelligence-led operations conducted in different parts of the state and in collaboration with other police formations.
The recoveries were made between August 1 and September 1, 2026, during separate operations coordinated under the direction of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
The command said the operations resulted in the arrest of several suspects allegedly connected to the theft and movement of the vehicles, while investigations were continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate.
“The Kano State Police Command is pleased to announce the successful recovery and formal handing over of four (4) stolen motor vehicles to their rightful owners,” Kiyawa said in the statement.
According to the command, operatives of the Dala Area Command made one of the breakthroughs following an operation that led to the arrest of Surajo Usman Ubale.
The police said the operation also resulted in the recovery of a Dangote trailer head suspected to have been stolen.
The recovered vehicle, according to the command, was registered as BKD 350 XB.
The police did not provide further details on where the trailer head was allegedly stolen from or the circumstances surrounding its recovery, but said the arrest formed part of the command’s wider operations against vehicle theft.
In another case, operatives of the Dawakin Kudu Division worked with their counterparts from the Datty Division in Lagos to trace a Toyota Matrix that had earlier been reported stolen.
The collaboration between the two police formations enabled investigators to track the vehicle and recover it.
The Toyota Matrix, with registration number ABJ 398 CG, was subsequently handed over to its owner, Muftahu Mohammed Ola, of Minna.
“In another operation, operatives of the Dawakin Kudu Division, working with the Datty Division in Lagos, traced and recovered a Toyota Matrix with registration number ABJ 398 CG, which had earlier been reported stolen,” the statement said.
“The vehicle was subsequently handed over to its owner, Muftahu Mohammed Ola, of Minna.”
The recovery demonstrates the importance of cooperation between police formations across state boundaries, particularly in cases involving stolen vehicles that may be moved from one location to another to evade detection.
The command said another vehicle was recovered by operatives of the Market Division after they acted on technical intelligence.
The operation led to the arrest of Abba S. Adam and the recovery of a maroon 2016 Hyundai Sonata with registration number GWA93DW.
According to the police, the Hyundai Sonata had been stolen in Kaduna before it was eventually recovered in connection with the intelligence-led operation in Kano.
The vehicle was later handed over to its owner, Abubakar Muhd Nura.
The police did not disclose how the vehicle was moved from Kaduna to Kano or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding its alleged theft.
The command said the fourth vehicle was recovered by operatives of the Special Intervention Squad during another operation.
According to Kiyawa, the squad arrested two suspects identified as Yunusa Mohammed, 33, and Muhammad Sani, 44.
The operation also led to the recovery of a golden Honda Civic with registration number ABJ 232 EY.
“The Special Intervention Squad also arrested Yunusa Mohammed, 33, and Muhammad Sani, 44, and recovered a golden Honda Civic with registration number ABJ 232 EY, valued at N1.5m,” Kiyawa said.
The police said the Honda Civic had reportedly been stolen in Sharada, Kano, before it was recovered by the Special Intervention Squad.
Following the recovery, the vehicle was handed over to its female owner.
The four recoveries were carried out through separate operations rather than a single raid, with the command linking the breakthroughs to intelligence gathering, technical intelligence, inter-divisional cooperation and information provided by members of the public.
The police said the development demonstrated the impact of sustained intelligence gathering and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
The command also said the operations were conducted in line with the strategic directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
According to the police, all the suspects arrested in connection with the recovered vehicles had confessed to the crimes.
The command said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations were completed.
“All the suspects have confessed to the crimes and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations,” the command said.
It added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate who were still at large.
The police did not disclose the number of other suspects being pursued or identify the alleged fleeing members of the syndicate.
However, the command said its investigation would continue with the aim of establishing the full extent of the suspected criminal network and bringing other suspects to justice.
The Commissioner of Police commended the officers involved in the operations for what the command described as professionalism and dedication.
“The Commissioner of Police commends the officers for their professionalism and appreciates members of the public for providing timely information,” the statement said.
The command’s acknowledgment of public information highlights the role of community engagement in tackling vehicle theft, particularly where stolen vehicles are moved through different communities and jurisdictions.
The police consequently urged vehicle owners to take additional precautions to protect their vehicles from theft.
The command advised motorists to park their vehicles in secure and well-lit locations and avoid leaving them in isolated areas.
It also recommended the use of anti-theft devices, including vehicle trackers, gear locks and alarms.
The police further cautioned motorists against leaving vehicle keys, documents and valuables inside their vehicles, particularly when parking in unsecured locations.
“The Command urges all motor vehicle owners to always park in secure, well-lit areas and avoid isolated locations, install anti-theft devices such as trackers, gear locks, and alarms, do not leave vehicle keys, documents, and valuables inside the vehicle,” the statement said.
The command also urged motorists and members of the public to report suspicious vehicle sales or movements to the nearest police station immediately.
The advice comes as the police continue efforts to prevent stolen vehicles from being moved between states or sold to unsuspecting buyers.
For vehicle owners, the police said early reporting of thefts and suspicious activity could assist investigators in tracking stolen vehicles before they are moved beyond the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
The recovery of the Toyota Matrix through cooperation between the Dawakin Kudu Division and the Datty Division in Lagos also underscores the importance of inter-state police coordination in addressing vehicle-related crimes.
Similarly, the recovery of the Hyundai Sonata, reportedly stolen in Kaduna, shows how stolen vehicles can potentially move away from the location where they were originally taken.
The police did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding each theft, the dates on which the individual vehicles were reported stolen or the precise locations where the vehicles were recovered.
Those details may emerge as investigations are completed and the suspects are taken before the court.
The command, however, maintained that the latest operations demonstrated its commitment to disrupting criminal activities involving stolen vehicles and bringing those responsible to justice.
The arrests and recoveries also come as part of wider police efforts to strengthen intelligence-led operations and improve cooperation with members of the public.
For the owners of the four recovered vehicles, the conclusion of the recovery process with the formal handover provides relief after their vehicles were reported stolen.
The police said the recovered vehicles had been formally returned to their rightful owners, while the suspects remained subject to investigation and prosecution.
The command urged the public to continue providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in preventing and detecting crime.
It also encouraged vehicle owners to take preventive security measures rather than relying solely on law enforcement after theft occurs.
West Trybe reports that the Kano State Police Command recovered four stolen vehicles between August 1 and September 1, 2026, during separate intelligence-led operations. The vehicles included a Dangote trailer head, a Toyota Matrix, a 2016 Hyundai Sonata and a Honda Civic valued at N1.5m. Several suspects were arrested, while the recovered vehicles were handed over to their respective owners. The command said investigations were continuing and efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate.
