INTERPOL, Police Recover Stolen Vehicles Trafficked to Burkina Faso, Arrest Suspect

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has recovered two vehicles stolen in separate armed robbery incidents in Abuja and trafficked to Burkina Faso, following a coordinated operation involving INTERPOL and law enforcement authorities in both countries.

The recovered vehicles—a 2018 Lexus SUV and a 2025 Toyota Hilux—were traced and returned to Nigeria through the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the Lexus SUV was stolen on August 3, 2025, while the Toyota Hilux was taken during another armed robbery on February 20, 2026.

According to the statement, the recovery followed separate requests for investigative assistance from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board.

The police said INTERPOL NCB Abuja activated its international cooperation channels with INTERPOL NCB Ouagadougou, leading to the successful tracing and recovery of the vehicles in Burkina Faso.

The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso and relevant Burkinabè law enforcement authorities.

Following their recovery, the vehicles were formally handed over to representatives of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the FCT Primary Health Care Board.

The police also confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified as Issoufou Nagimou, in connection with the cross-border trafficking of the stolen vehicles.

According to the statement, the suspect has been charged before the High Court of Burkina Faso over his alleged involvement in the trafficking operation.

The Force said the successful recovery underscores the importance of international cooperation, intelligence sharing and cross-border collaboration in combating organised crime.

It reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement agencies to tackle vehicle trafficking and other forms of transnational criminal activity.