INTERPOL Recovers Two Vehicles Stolen in Abuja, Repatriates Them from Burkina Faso
One suspect arraigned as Police intensify crackdown on cross-border vehicle trafficking syndicates
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against transnational organised crime with the recovery and repatriation of two vehicles stolen at gunpoint in Abuja and trafficked to Burkina Faso, reinforcing its commitment to dismantling cross-border vehicle theft syndicates operating across West Africa.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, ANIPR, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, resulting in the successful recovery of a 2018 Lexus SUV and a 2025 Toyota Hilux stolen in separate armed robbery incidents in the Federal Capital Territory.
Police said the Lexus SUV was hijacked from its driver on August 3, 2025, while the Toyota Hilux was stolen under similar circumstances on February 20, 2026, before both vehicles were trafficked to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, by a criminal syndicate specialising in cross-border vehicle theft within Nigeria and the Sahel region.
The Force explained that the recovery operation commenced after requests for assistance were received from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board, prompting INTERPOL NCB Abuja to activate its international cooperation channels with INTERPOL NCB Ouagadougou.
Through coordinated efforts involving the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso, and intelligence operatives of INTERPOL NCB Ouagadougou, both vehicles were successfully traced, recovered and returned to Nigeria.
The recovered vehicles have since been formally handed over to representatives of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the FCT Primary Health Care Board.
In the course of the operation, authorities in Burkina Faso arrested Issoufou Nagimou, who has now been arraigned before the High Court of Burkina Faso in connection with the cross-border vehicle trafficking case.
The Nigeria Police Force described the operation as another example of the effectiveness of international law enforcement collaboration in combating organised crime.
“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to deepening international police cooperation through the INTERPOL platform and to relentlessly pursuing criminal syndicates involved in cross-border vehicle trafficking, in furtherance of its mandate to protect lives and property,” the statement said.
The Force reiterated that it would continue to strengthen partnerships with international law enforcement agencies to combat transnational criminal networks and ensure that stolen assets are recovered while perpetrators are brought to justice.
