Police bust car theft gang, arrest three, recover four vehicles in Sokoto

The combined team of detectives from the Zonal Intelligence Department (ZID) in Zone 10 Sokoto has apprehended three members of a gang specialising in car theft between Sokoto and Kebbi States.

Spokesperson for the command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, on behalf of AIG Abubakar Lawal Daura, who oversees the zone.

“The police, with the support of the citizens in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, have successfully dismantled criminal gangs that were causing havoc in the aforementioned states,” the statement reads.

“This gang specialized in car theft of various models within these three states and disposed of the stolen vehicles both within and outside our neighboring countries.

“Based on credible intelligence, a crack team within the Zonal Command located the criminals’ hideout in an unfinished building in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, resulting in the arrest of Muttaka Muhammad, a 29-year-old from Zauro town.

“Upon interrogation and thorough investigation, four stolen vehicles were recovered in Kebbi and Sokoto States, which led to the apprehension of two other gang members in Kebbi and Sokoto, namely Kasimu Muhammad, 33 years old from Dukki area in Bunza LGA, and Haliru Musa, 35 years old from Baiti Area, both hailing from Kebbi State.”

The vehicles recovered during the operation include a gray Toyota Corolla LE with the chassis number 211BR32E74124, another gray Toyota Corolla LE with the chassis number WVBR82F94Z649604, a blue Toyota Corolla Fish Eye with the chassis number JT15EEB103103294, and a second blue Toyota Corolla Fish Eye with the chassis number JT152EEB103134442.

The statement urges the general public to inform relatives or friends who may have lost their vehicles to come forward with proof of ownership for confirmation and recovery at the Zone 10 AIG Office.

The AIG has also called on the public to remain vigilant and security-conscious in their areas and to continue cooperating with the police and other security agencies, as security is a shared responsibility.