Police announce arrest of three notorious armed robbers
Nigeria Police Force Reports Significant Success in Combatting Armed Robbery
The Nigeria Police Force announced a significant operational breakthrough facilitated by the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
On March 16, 2026, the FID-STS apprehended three suspects linked to a series of armed robberies in Kaduna State and recovered ten stolen vehicles. The arrested individuals have been identified as Abubakar Musa, 36; Hassan Umar, 30; and Joshua Raphael, 20.
According to a statement released by Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Okon Placid, who serves as the Force Public Relations Officer, preliminary investigations indicate that Musa, the principal suspect, is a former corporal in the Nigerian Army. He allegedly posed as an active soldier to evade law enforcement while conducting armed robbery operations with accomplices.
The police further detailed that the criminal syndicate specializes in the theft and distribution of stolen vehicles, often altering or removing registration details to obscure ownership.
The operation resulted in the recovery of ten vehicles from various brands, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda, a Lexus, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV. Several of these vehicles were found without registration numbers.
The statement noted that investigations are ongoing to locate additional suspects connected to the syndicate and recover further evidence.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu praised the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to addressing criminal activities and safeguarding the public.
