Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has recovered two vehicles stolen at gunpoint in Abuja and trafficked to Burkina Faso, dealing a major blow to a cross-border vehicle theft syndicate operating across Nigeria and the Sahel region.
Gatekeepers News reports that sccording to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the recovered vehicles are a 2018 Lexus SUV and a 2025 Toyota Hilux. The Lexus was stolen on August 3, 2025, while the Hilux was snatched on February 20, 2026. Both vehicles were reportedly taken by a syndicate specialising in cross-border vehicle trafficking.
The police said the recovery followed separate requests from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Board. Acting through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, Nigerian authorities collaborated with INTERPOL NCB in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to trace and recover the stolen vehicles.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso and Burkinabe intelligence authorities, led to the successful recovery and repatriation of both vehicles to Nigeria. The vehicles have since been handed over to representatives of the two government offices.
Police also confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified as Issoufou Nagimou, in Burkina Faso. He has been charged before the High Court of Burkina Faso over his alleged involvement in the trafficking of the stolen vehicles.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international police cooperation through INTERPOL and pledged to intensify efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks involved in cross-border vehicle theft and trafficking while protecting lives and property.
