Kano: Police arrest 10 suspected interstate car thieves, recover 12 vehicles

The Kano State Police Command has apprehended 10 suspects linked to an interstate car theft syndicate and recovered 12 stolen vehicles. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori announced the arrests during a press conference in Kano. The suspects were apprehended through separate operations by the Special Intervention Squad (SIS).

The initiative aimed to disrupt criminal networks, as directed by the Inspector-General of Police. Five suspects were initially arrested in Adamawa State on September 7, 2026, based on credible information. Following the arrests and recoveries, additional intelligence led to the seizure of 10 more vehicles in Kano and neighboring states.

Bakori revealed that the suspects had allegedly committed motor vehicle theft in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe and other bordering states. They reportedly transported stolen cars across borders for resale. The recovered vehicles included a Toyota Corolla LE, Pontiac Vibe, Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Sienna, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Tucson and another Toyota Hilux with Katsina registration number.

Notably, 11 of the 12 recovered vehicles were unregistered, posing challenges for police investigations. Bakori emphasized the importance of vehicle registration and warned against driving unregistered cars. The police have enhanced their intelligence capabilities and established rapid response units to combat violent crimes, vehicle theft, kidnapping and other security issues.

They will work with neighboring police forces under the Handshake Patrol initiative to prevent criminal exploitation of state borders. The public is urged to report suspicious vehicle and person activity, and owners of recovered cars can contact the investigating officers for verification.