Police recover stolen vehicle, arrest suspect in Abuja

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have recovered a stolen vehicle, arrested a suspected armed robbery and cultism suspect, and recovered arms and ammunition in separate operations across Abuja.

In one of the incidents, a resident of Galadimawa, Abuja, reported at the Mabushi Police Division on March 9, 2026, at about 10:04 a.m. that his Toyota Corolla S vehicle with registration number KAB 83 BF, dark grey in colour, had been stolen by unknown persons in Kaduna State on April 5, 2024.

Following the report, police operatives from the division launched an intelligence-led operation aimed at tracing the stolen vehicle.

The operation yielded results the same day as the vehicle was successfully traced and recovered from a suspect identified as Blessing Ohwobete in Dutse Alhaji area of Abuja.

The suspect and the recovered vehicle are currently in police custody while investigations continue. Police authorities stated that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

In a separate operation on March 13, 2026, at about 8:30 a.m., police operatives attached to the Maitama Division were conducting routine stop-and-search patrol around Diamond Junction in Wuse II when they sighted a dark-coloured Toyota Corolla approaching a police barricade at high speed.

Attempts by officers to stop the vehicle proved unsuccessful as the driver reportedly drove through the barricade in an effort to evade a search.

Police operatives immediately pursued the vehicle and eventually intercepted it after blocking its path.

The driver reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and opened fire on the officers in an attempt to escape. The police team responded and overpowered the suspect, leading to his arrest.

The suspect was later identified as Abiola Yakubu, aged 45.

A search conducted on him led to the recovery of a locally made pistol with one expended cartridge.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the suspect is a member of a cult group and that he allegedly purchased the firearm from another gang member identified as Jasper.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT Command, Miller G. Dantawaye, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident to uncover the source of the weapon and track down other suspected members of the cult group who are currently at large.

In another development on the same day at about 1:30 a.m., operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Anti-One Chance Unit intercepted a motorcyclist carrying three adult male passengers during a surveillance patrol around the Gudu area of the territory.

On sighting the police team, the suspects reportedly sped away and threw away a bag before fleeing the scene.

The bag was later recovered by the operatives.

A search of the bag led to the recovery of a pistol with six rounds of live 9mm ammunition, a locally fabricated gun with three cartridges, a wire cutter, and a cutlass.

Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to trace the source of the recovered weapons and apprehend the suspects who escaped during the operation.