- Safiu Kehinde
A couple specialised in using master keys to steal vehicles have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
One of those arrested who is wife to one of the syndicate, said she bought the master key which her husband uses to steal cars from online stores Jumia.
On the couple’s mode of operation which was disclosed in a post shared on X on Tuesday, the lady, identified as Blessing Yusuf, often create distractions to enable her husband steal targeted vehicles.
In similar operation carried out yesterday the Command arrested five suspects who brought a vehicle stolen in Lekki are of Lagos to sell in Abuja.
The suspects had alleged stolen the suspicious black Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC E-400 (Reg No. AAA 07 KA vehicle from their employer.
Also nabbed by operatives of the FCT Police Command was one George Idung who went missing along side his unregistered Toyota Hilux Adventure.
He would, however, be tracked to his village in Eket LGA, Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested while attempting to sell off the vehicle.
All the arrested suspects are currently in custody while the FCT Police Commissioner, Ajao Adewale, in reaction to the development, urged residents to install tracking devices in their vehicles, avoid isolated parking spaces, and verify vehicle ownership before purchase.
The statement read in part; “On 19th April 2025, following the report of a stolen gold Toyota Corolla (Reg No. ABC 570 FJ) from the Federal Secretariat, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad arrested one Yusuf Yunusa.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of his wife, Blessing Yusuf, on 25th April in Kwali Area Council.
“She confessed to purchasing Toyota master keys from the Jumia online marketplace, which her husband used to steal vehicles, while she created distractions to facilitate the crimes.
“In another case, on 28th April 2025, police responded to a report from a car buyer in Life Camp regarding a suspicious black Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC E-400 (Reg No. AAA 07 KA). Upon investigation, it was confirmed stolen from Lekki, Lagos.
“Five suspects were arrested and identified as Idris Suleiman, Isiyaku Habibu, Ganiyu Sadiq, Idowu Akintunde, and Bello Muyideen.
“The stolen vehicle was recovered and the suspects confessed to stealing it from their employer.
“Similarly, following a report from Mr Chinwenze Chinaza that his driver, one George Idung had gone missing along side his unregistered Toyota Hilux Adventure, Police operatives from Mabushi Division acting on credible intelligence, swung into action, tracked the said driver to his village in Eket LGA, Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested while attempting to sell off the vehicle. He is in custody and the vehicle has been recovered.
“All eight suspects are in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Ajao S. Adewale, psc, mnips, encouraged residents to install tracking devices in their vehicles, avoid isolated parking spaces, and verify vehicle ownership before purchase.”