By Muhammad Auwal
The Bauchi State Police Command has recovered a 2022 Toyota Hilux reportedly stolen in Jos, Plateau State, and arrested two suspects in a major breakthrough against vehicle theft.
The suspects were arrested by detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following an intelligence-led operation that traced the stolen vehicle to Bauchi.
Police said the Hilux, belonging to a 48-year-old resident of Kwata Zawan, Jos, was allegedly stolen from the premises of Oasis Bakery in Bukuru on the night of July 17, 2026. Preliminary investigation indicated that the theft was carried out with the alleged involvement of a dismissed military officer.
Acting on information received from Plateau State, SCID operatives tracked the suspects to Larema Hotel along Dass Road in Bauchi, where they were arrested on July 18.
The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Tijjani, 31, a dismissed Lieutenant of the Nigerian Army who was disengaged from service in 2021, and Umar Muhammad, 33, both residents of Jos.
According to the Police Command, the principal suspect confessed during interrogation to stealing the Hilux and also admitted to his involvement in the theft of two other vehicles from Bauchi, which were allegedly sold outside the state.
The recovered vehicle has since been handed over to its rightful owner, while investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the suspects' activities and identify other possible accomplices.
Commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, described the operation as another significant success in the Command's campaign against property-related crimes.
He noted that the latest recovery brings to six the number of stolen vehicles recovered by the Command within the first two weeks of July, attributing the achievement to intelligence-driven policing and the dedication of police personnel.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the nearest police station, stressing that timely information remains critical to effective crime prevention.
He reaffirmed the Command's commitment to sustaining the fight against criminal networks and ensuring that those involved in vehicle theft and other offences are brought to justice.
0 Comments