Police bust tricycle theft syndicate in Yobe, arrest two suspects
Yobe State Police Crack Down on Tricycle Theft Ring
Damaturu, Yobe – The Yobe State Police Command has dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in the theft of tricycles, commonly known as Keke Napep, in and around Damaturu.
The police announced the operation through a statement released on Friday by Public Relations Officer SP Dungus Abdulkarim. According to the statement, the intervention was prompted by a complaint filed on April 21, 2026, by a resident of Kukareta Village, Goni Kemi, who reported the theft of his yellow tricycle, identified by registration number 5330 DTR, along Maiduguri Road.
Following credible intelligence, police operatives from B Division Police Headquarters carried out a targeted operation on April 30, 2026. During this operation, they successfully recovered the stolen tricycle, although it had been dismantled into parts by a suspected scrap dealer, the statement noted.
Ali Mallam Ibrahim, a resident of Don-Etiebiet Housing Estate in Damaturu, was arrested during the operation. He reportedly confessed to purchasing the stolen tricycle from Ibrahim Umar of Pompomari Ward, who was also taken into custody in connection with the theft.
Authorities are still searching for another suspect, identified as Alhaji Ali of Dapchi, who remains at large. Police are actively working to apprehend this individual.
The case is currently under investigation, and both arrested suspects will face charges in court once the investigation concludes.
