Operatives of the Yobe State Police Command have busted a criminal syndicate specialising in the theft of tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, in Damaturu and its environs.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, the successful operation followed a complaint received on April 21, 2026, from one Goni Kemi of Kukareta Village, Damaturu, reporting that his yellow-coloured tricycle, with registration number 5330 DTR, had been stolen along Maiduguri Road.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of B Division Police Headquarters, Damaturu, on April 30, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., carried out a targeted operation which led to the recovery of the stolen tricycle.
“However, the tricycle had already been dismantled into parts by a suspected scrap dealer,” the statement said.
It added that the suspect, Ali Mallam Ibrahim of Don-Etiebiet Housing Estate, Damaturu, was arrested and confessed to having purchased the tricycle from one Ibrahim Umar of Pompomari Ward, Damaturu, who was also apprehended in connection with the crime.
“Meanwhile, one Alhaji Ali of Dapchi is currently at large. Efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspect.
“The case is under investigation, and the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation,” the command said.