Operatives of the Nigeria police in Kaduna state have arrested a suspected international car thief.
In a statement on Friday, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, said the suspect, identified as Mubarak Kabiru, was arrested in a hotel in Kaduna following a tip off.
Hassan said, “On the 27th of May, 2024, at about 1830hrs, the police received a tip-off from a Good Samaritan.
“An individual reported that he was requested to assist in collecting a Lexus LX470 Jeep from a mechanic.
“Upon collecting the vehicle, he suspected it to be stolen and promptly reported to the police.”
The police spokesperson said, “Following the report, the vehicle was recovered and brought to SAbon/Gari police station.
“A search was conducted, leading to the discovery of the vehicle particulars bearing the name of the owner, along with his contact number.
When contacted, the owner recounted that the car was snatched from him at gunpoint by five armed men at his residence in Utako, Abuja.
Subsequently, the police mobilized surveillance and managed to arrest the suspect, identified as Mubarak Kabiru from Kano, along Alkali Road, Kaduna.
“A search of his room at Ishacool Hotel, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, resulted in the recovery of an anti-tracking jammer.”
Hassan said further that, “During interrogation, Mubarak Kabiru confessed that, under the instruction of his boss, Dauda from Niger Republic, he had been transporting stolen vehicles from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Abuja using the jammer to prevent tracking of the stolen vehicles.
“These vehicles were then taken to border towns through Sokoto and Katsina and sold in Niger Republic.”
The statement said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices, adding that the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.
