Isiyaku Ahmed
Kano State Police Command has recovered four stolen vehicles in a series of intelligence-led operations conducted across Kano, Yobe and Kaduna states within the past week.
The operations, carried out by the Command’s Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and officers of the Badawa Division, also led to the arrest of a fraud suspect and the recovery of a hospital ambulance stolen during a robbery attack.
CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Command’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the recoveries were in line with the intelligence-driven policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, operatives arrested a 37-year-old suspect, Suleiman Umar of Malari Ward in Damaturu, Yobe State, over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a red Kia Forte vehicle valued at N9.5 million.
The suspect was said to have obtained the vehicle from a Lagos-based automobile dealer after allegedly presenting a fake bank payment alert. Following investigations, SIS operatives tracked and arrested him in Yobe State on 17 June 2026.
The suspect confessed to the offence, while the vehicle was recovered and returned to its rightful owner, the statement added.
In a separate incident, police recovered a red Daihatsu Sirion valued at N4 million that was stolen from a residential area in Unguwa Uku, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.
The vehicle owner, Murtala Mohammed, had reported that the car was stolen while parked in front of his residence. The vehicle was later found abandoned within Tarauni, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible.
Similarly, an ash-coloured Hyundai Elantra valued at N12 million, reportedly stolen from an event centre in Kano, was recovered during a coordinated operation along the Kano-Kaduna axis.
The statement added that the suspects abandoned the vehicle in Zaria, Kaduna State, upon noticing security operatives closing in on them. The vehicle has since been returned to its owner, while investigations continue.
The Command also recovered a Toyota ambulance belonging to EHA Special Hospital in Kano after it was stolen during an attack on the facility.
According to statement, two unidentified suspects attacked security guards at the hospital with a knife before carting away the ambulance, solar batteries and other valuables.
Following a swift response by officers from the Badawa Division, the ambulance was later recovered abandoned along Zaria Road. However, the suspects escaped and are currently being tracked.
The beneficiaries of the recoveries, including the management of EHA Special Hospital, commended the Kano State Police Command for its prompt response and professionalism.
CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that Kano State would not serve as a safe haven for car thieves, fraudsters and other criminal elements.
He also urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to aid ongoing investigations and crime prevention efforts.
