Escaped Convict, 14 Others Nabbed in Borno Over Tricycle Snatching Syndicate
By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
In a major crackdown on criminal activity, the Borno State Police Command has arrested a notorious escapee and 14 other suspects linked to a syndicate specialising in the theft of tricycles and truck batteries within Maiduguri and its environs.
Parading the suspects on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nahum Kenneth Daso, disclosed that the arrests followed a swift response by operatives of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) Base 8 to a distress call in the early hours of April 16, 2025.
According to Daso, 38-year-old Ali Mohammed was apprehended while in possession of a dismantled tricycle engine. “Upon interrogation, he confessed to stealing the engine alongside an accomplice identified as ‘Alhaji,’ who is still on the run. The stolen Keke Napep belonged to one Muhammed Batcha and was snatched around 9:00 p.m. on April 15 along the Pompomari bypass,” he said.
Further investigation led to a coordinated raid on three suspected criminal hideouts in the same area, resulting in the arrest of 14 additional suspects aged between 16 and 29.
Items recovered from the gang include two tricycles, five mobile phones, a POS machine, a shisha pot, a power bank, a cutlass, a saw blade, a memory card, and a waist charm. Other exhibits include two knives, two ATM cards, ten finger rings, and a bunch of master keys—suggestive of a well-organized theft operation.
In a startling revelation, the prime suspect, Ali Mohammed, was identified as an escaped inmate from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri. He reportedly fled custody during the devastating floods that hit the metropolis in September last year.
SP Daso confirmed that the case has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and eventual prosecution.
The police have called on the public, especially recent victims of tricycle theft, to visit the command headquarters with valid proof of ownership to reclaim their property.
This latest breakthrough underscores the command’s commitment to rooting out crime and restoring public confidence in security across the state.
