By: Manoah Kikekon
KANO — In a major breakthrough against urban crime, the Kano State Police Command has successfully Arrested a specialized three-man syndicate responsible for a string of tricycle (Keke Napep) thefts across the state.
The operation, which culminated on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, led to the recovery of eight stolen tricycles and the arrest of the principal suspects. The breakthrough follows a directive from the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, to intensify intelligence-led patrols across the Kano metropolis.
The downfall of the syndicate began on March 26, 2026, when eagle-eyed officers on surveillance patrol along Airport Road, Kano, intercepted a suspicious rider. The suspect, identified as Abubakar Sidi of Kunkumi Village, Kaduna State, was found riding a tricycle with registration number NSR 85 WD.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Sidi was unable to provide any proof of ownership or a satisfactory account of how he obtained the vehicle. This prompted an immediate transfer to the **Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a more "discreet" interrogation.
Investigations quickly unmasked a calculated "modus operandi" used by the gang. Sidi confessed that he had deceived the original owner of the tricycle along Emir Palace Road in Kano before making away with the vehicle.
The suspect did not act alone. His confession led investigators to his accomplices, identified as Abba Babura and Babangida Haruna. The syndicate specialized in snatching tricycles in Kano and quickly transporting them to Babura, Jigawa State, where they were sold to unsuspecting buyers. Following the arrest of the accomplices, the police successfully recovered seven additional tricycles in Jigawa.
Spokesperson Abdullahi Kiyawa issued a stern advisory to tricycle operators, who are often targeted through subtle drugging or deception.
“The police appeal to tricycle operators to be vigilant and report suspicious activities,” Kiyawa stated. “We urge operators not to accept drinks or gifts from strangers, as this is a common tactic used to dispossess them of their livelihoods.”
The command has called on residents whose tricycles were stolen under similar circumstances to visit the Police Public Relations Office at Bompai Headquarters or contact the investigating officer on 07010161372 for possible identification and retrieval.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori praised the Kwakwachi Police Division and the CID team for their professionalism and technological approach to the investigation. He reaffirmed that the Command remains committed to the IGP’s community policing directives, ensuring that Kano remains a hostile environment for criminal syndicates.