The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspected vehicle thieves in separate intelligence-led operations, recovering four allegedly stolen tricycles and a maroon Pontiac vehicle.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the operations involved collaboration with security formations across state boundaries.

The first case began on August 4 after Abubakar Ali of Danmarke, Hotoro Quarters, reported the theft of his tricycle at the Bompai Police Division.

According to the police, Ali was riding along Hadejia Road when he picked 23-year-old Muhammad Sani as a passenger.

“The complainant said he was riding along Hadejia Road when he picked a 23-year-old passenger, Muhammad Sani, at Sufi Mart,” the statement said.

Police said Sani, who had bandages on his hand and leg and presented himself as injured, allegedly asked the rider to stop at a supermarket to purchase some items.

“While the complainant was away, the suspect used another key to ignite the tricycle and drove away,” the police said.

Following the report, Bompai police alerted neighbouring divisions, resulting in Sani’s arrest by a patrol team from Bichi Police Division.

Investigators subsequently traced the operation to Katsina State, where they arrested another alleged member of the syndicate, 33-year-old Aminu Saad. Four suspected stolen tricycles were recovered from him.

The command said the tricycles had reportedly been stolen through a similar method, adding that Saad confessed to being a member of the syndicate.

“The four recovered tricycles have since been handed over to their rightful owners, while investigation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate,” Kiyawa said.

In a separate operation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested 23-year-old Isah Yusuf of Titin Jajira, Rijiyar Lemo, Kano, on July 25.

Police said Yusuf was found with a maroon Pontiac without a registration number and claimed to have purchased it from Niger Republic through one Ashiru Mohammed, also known as Mai Gold.

Further investigation, however, revealed that the vehicle had been stolen from Taraba State before being taken to Niger Republic, sold to a dealer and subsequently brought back into Nigeria.

The command appealed to the vehicle’s rightful owner to come forward with valid proof of ownership through the Anti-Kidnapping Squad or the PPRO’s office at the Bompai Police Headquarters.

Commenting on the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, commended the officers for the operations and recoveries.

“These breakthroughs demonstrate the importance of intelligence-led policing and effective collaboration among our formations, particularly across state boundaries,” Bakori said.

He assured residents that the command would sustain its operations under the IGP’s Handshake Patrol strategy to curb criminal activities.

“We will continue to work with the people of Kano State to identify and dismantle criminal networks operating within the state and its environs,” he said.

The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.