INTERPOL Recovers, Repatriates Stolen Vehicles Trafficked to Burkina Faso

The Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, has recovered and repatriated two vehicles, a 2018 Lexus SUV and a 2025 Toyota Hilux, allegedly stolen at gunpoint in Abuja and trafficked to Burkina Faso by a cross-border criminal syndicate.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operation was carried out under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

According to the statement, the Lexus SUV was stolen on August 3, 2025, while the Toyota Hilux was snatched on February 20, 2026.

The police said the recovery followed separate requests for assistance from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Board.

READ ALSO: IGP Disu Leads INTERPOL West Africa Security Meeting in Abuja

Following the requests, INTERPOL NCB Abuja activated its international cooperation channels with INTERPOL NCB Ouagadougou to track the stolen vehicles.

The statement said the operation was supported by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso and intelligence counterparts in Ouagadougou.

According to the police, the coordinated efforts led to the successful tracing, recovery and repatriation of both vehicles to Nigeria.

The recovered vehicles have since been 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 disclosed that one suspect, identified as Issoufou Nagimou, was arrested during the operation and has been charged before the High Court of Burkina Faso.

Reaffirming its resolve to combat transnational crime, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to strengthen collaboration with international law enforcement agencies through INTERPOL.

“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.