Suspected car thief nabbed while driving stolen vehicle to village to visit his parents in Niger state

Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested a suspected car thief, Nathaniel Andrew, in Minna and recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla vehicle. 

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, January 12, 2024, said the suspect was arrested along the Minna-Suleja road while driving the stolen vehicle to Gbaiko to see his parents. 

“On 03/01/2024 at about 1700hrs, the Police patrol team attached to Paiko Division arrested one Nathaniel Andrew aged 32yrs of Gbaiko area of Minna, with a Toyota Corolla LE vehicle, red in colour without a registration number suspected to have been stolen,” the statement read. 

“The suspect was arrested along Minna-Suleja road, when he was sighted on the highway by the patrol team, driving a vehicle without registration number.

“The vehicle developed a mechanical fault on the way and he attempted to sell the spare tyre in order to repair the vehicle, as he claimed that he had no money in his possession.

“These actions were suspicious and he was arrested. During interrogation, he confessed that he stole the vehicle from the Central Area, Abuja and that he was driving the vehicle to Gbaiko to visit his parents. 

“He claimed that he met the vehicle key on the door of the car, and he used the key to drive the vehicle away to Minna. He said he was planning to sell the vehicle soon in Kaduna before his arrest.

“The suspect has been transferred to the Crack Squad unit for further investigation and prosecution.”