The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a Toyota Hilux stolen from Abuja after a swift operation by operatives of the Maitama Police Division.
The Command said the white 2014 Toyota Hilux with Registration Number BWR 712 CV was stolen from the Wuse II area of the FCT on June 20, 2026.
According to the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Maitama Division, CSP Altine Daniel, received a distress call at about 1:45 p.m. reporting the theft of the vehicle.
She said preliminary findings revealed that the owner had parked the vehicle around 1:30 p.m. but discovered it missing about four minutes later after an unidentified individual drove it away.
Following the report, the DPO immediately mobilised a team of operatives to the scene and directed all police formations and deployments along entry and exit routes within the FCT to commence stop-and-search operations to intercept the stolen vehicle.
The Command added that with the aid of digital tracking technology, the vehicle was traced to Kubacha in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where it was recovered at about 3:30 p.m. on the same day. One suspect was arrested in connection with the theft.
The suspect and the recovered vehicle are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify other possible accomplices.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, urged residents to remain security conscious by taking proactive measures to safeguard their vehicles and valuables. He advised vehicle owners to install functional tracking devices, avoid leaving valuables unattended in their vehicles, and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the FCT Police Command emergency lines.
