The Nigeria Police Force has successfully recovered and repatriated two vehicles that were stolen at gunpoint in Abuja and trafficked to Burkina Faso by a cross-border vehicle trafficking syndicate. The operation was coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, according to police spokesperson Ani Iniedu, a chief superintendent of police.
Details of the Recovered Vehicles
Mr Iniedu identified the vehicles as a 2018 Lexus SUV and a 2025 Toyota Hilux. The Lexus SUV was stolen on 3 August 2025, while the Toyota Hilux was snatched on 20 February. Both vehicles belonged to government offices: the Lexus to the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, and the Toyota to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Board.
International Recovery Operation
INTERPOL NCB Abuja initiated the international recovery effort after receiving separate requests for assistance from the vehicle owners. The operation involved collaboration with INTERPOL’s counterpart in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and received support from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso. Through this coordinated effort, the vehicles were successfully traced, recovered, and returned to Nigeria, then handed over to representatives of the two government offices.
Arrest and Prosecution
One suspect, Issoufou Nagimou, was arrested during the operation. According to Mr Iniedu, “In the course of the operation, one suspect, Issoufou Nagimou, was arrested and has been charged before the High Court of Burkina Faso.” The police spokesperson reaffirmed the force’s commitment to strengthening international police cooperation through INTERPOL and dismantling transnational criminal networks involved in cross-border vehicle trafficking across the region.
