Abuja Police Apprehend 14 Alleged Car Thieves and Recover 17 Vehicles

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has taken 14 individuals into custody for their suspected involvement in a vehicle theft and robbery ring. During the operation, authorities recovered 17 stolen cars across various Abuja neighborhoods.

Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi announced the results on Wednesday, explaining that the arrests stemmed from focused intelligence missions spanning from March 2026 to the present.

Officers from the Mabushi, Durumi, Maitama, and Central Police stations conducted the raids to combat carjacking, parking lot thefts, and organized robbery schemes.

Investigations linked the group to both violent carjackings and the misuse of stolen vehicles to commit additional crimes. Many of the recovered cars have been reunited with their rightful owners, while officials work to identify the remaining vehicles.

Sanusi also highlighted an incident on April 10 where officers disrupted a one chance robbery on an isolated road. During the confrontation, suspects fired at police, who returned fire and arrested one individual.

Two kidnapped women were freed from the suspects’ vehicle during the event. One victim reported being sexually assaulted; investigators subsequently apprehended a suspect named Cornelius Abang, whom the victims identified as their assailant.

All suspects are currently detained as the investigation continues, with court appearances scheduled shortly. Additionally, the police commissioner confirmed the detention of Pam Joshua, a content creator accused of spreading false claims about bandit attacks in Abuja. Joshua faces charges of injurious falsehood and disturbing the peace and is currently held at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The police have issued a reminder for residents to prioritize information from official security channels to avoid spreading panic and potential criminal liability.