A major car theft syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been dismantled by the FCT Police Command, leading to the arrest of eight suspects, including a woman who confessed to aiding her husband’s criminal activities.
The breakthrough came on April 19, 2025, when the Scorpion Squad arrested Yusuf Yunusa, who was linked to the theft of a gold Toyota Corolla reported missing from the Federal Secretariat. Following his arrest, investigations led to the capture of his wife, Blessing Yusuf, on April 25, 2025, in the Kwali Area Council. She admitted to purchasing Toyota master keys from an online shopping platform, Jumia, which her husband used to steal vehicles. Blessing further revealed that she played a role in creating distractions to facilitate the car thefts.
In a separate case, a tip-off from a buyer in Life Camp regarding a suspicious black Mercedes-Benz led police to arrest five more suspects—Idris Suleiman, Isiyaku Habibu, Ganiyu Sadiq, Idowu Akintunde, and Bello Muyideen—who were found to have stolen the vehicle from their employer in Lekki, Lagos. The stolen vehicle was recovered, and the suspects confessed to their involvement.
Another arrest took place when George Idung, a driver, was tracked down in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, after fleeing with his employer’s unregistered Toyota Hilux Adventure. The vehicle was recovered by Mabushi Division operatives as Idung attempted to sell it.
All suspects are in police custody, and investigations are ongoing. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, advised vehicle owners to install tracking devices, avoid parking in isolated areas, and verify ownership when purchasing used vehicles.
