FCT Police Dismantle Notorious Car Theft Syndicate, Arrest Four Suspects and Recover Six Stolen Vehicles in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced a major operational success against organized crime, confirming the arrest of four suspected members of a notorious car theft syndicate that specialized in operating across the FCT and its adjoining states. The arrests, confirmed today, Wednesday, December 3, 2025, also led to the significant recovery of six different brands of stolen vehicles. The suspects, identified by the command as John David, Michael Peter, Idris Sani, and Umar Bello, were apprehended in various locations within the FCT following a sustained, intelligence-led operation targeting criminal elements.

According to the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate employed sophisticated methods to snatch cars primarily from residential areas and busy parking lots. Their modus operandi involved quickly moving the stolen vehicles out of the FCT to neighboring states like Nasarawa and Kaduna, where they would be sold or dismantled for parts.

The recovered vehicles, which include popular brands, have been taken into custody as exhibits, and the suspects are currently undergoing intensive interrogation to uncover the full extent of their network and potentially recover more stolen property. CP Garba assured residents that the FCT Command remains dedicated to drastically reducing crime rates, especially car theft and burglary. He called on vehicle owners to enhance their security vigilance by utilizing basic security measures, including installing effective tracking devices, to frustrate the efforts of such syndicates.