The Kano State Police Command has recovered a vehicle reportedly stolen in Kaduna State and arrested a suspect linked to the case in Takai Local Government Area.
The command also confirmed the arrest of a suspected drug dealer after operatives recovered hundreds of parcels of substances believed to be Cannabis Sativa in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, the command received a distress call on May 12, 2026, through its emergency line concerning a silver Pontiac Vibe with registration number KMC 928 LK that had allegedly been stolen in Kaduna and was heading toward Kano.
“On May 12, 2026, at about 1654hrs, the Kano State Police Command received a distress call through its emergency line, 08032419754, reporting that a silver Pontiac Vibe motor vehicle with registration number KMC 928 LK had been stolen in Kaduna and was headed towards Kano State,” the statement said.
Kiyawa stated that the Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ibrahim Bakori, directed divisional police officers in border communities to intercept the vehicle in line with intelligence-driven policing strategies introduced by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
“Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, Ibrahim Bakori, and in line with the intelligence-led policing directives of the IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Command immediately mobilised Divisional Police Officers in border local government areas to intercept the vehicle and investigate its occupants,” he added.
Police operatives later mounted a checkpoint along a highway in Takai, where they intercepted the vehicle and arrested the driver, identified as Christian Ikwumesi, 38, from Benin in Edo State.
“In compliance with the directive, the Divisional Police Officer, Takai Division, mounted a strategic roadblock along the highway. At the checkpoint, operatives intercepted the said vehicle being driven by Christian Ikwumesi, 38, of Benin, Edo State. The suspect was arrested on the spot, and the vehicle was recovered. A preliminary investigation confirmed the vehicle was stolen from Kaduna State,” the statement stated.
The command said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation aimed at uncovering other persons connected to the crime.
Police also confirmed that the recovered vehicle had been verified and returned to its rightful owner, who praised the command for its swift response.
In a separate operation, officers attached to the Dawakin Tofa Division arrested a suspected drug peddler identified as Umaru, also known as Jalo, in Yan Shado village.
“Operatives of the Kano Police Command have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking with the arrest of a suspected drug peddler and the recovery of a large cache of suspected Cannabis Sativa in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area,” Haruna said.
The statement explained that the suspect was apprehended on May 13 while allegedly offloading sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa into his residence.
“On May 13, 2026, at about 1800hrs, operatives attached to Dawakin Tofa Police Division, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Umaru, a.k.a. Jalo, of Yan Shado Village, Dawakin Tofa LGA. The suspect was caught offloading eighteen sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa into his residence.”
Police said the operation followed directives from the commissioner of police to identify and arrest suspected drug dealers based on intelligence gathered from community members and other sources.
“A search of the premises led to the recovery of the eighteen sacks. Upon examination, each sack contained parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, totalling 879 parcels. The suspect was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody, undergoing investigation,” the statement added.
