By Abigail Philip David
The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a syndicate accused of supplying motorcycles to Boko Haram terrorists in Niger and Kaduna states. The Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 7, Benneth Igweh, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Zone’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Igweh revealed that detectives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested three suspects in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State. The suspects, identified as Shamsuddeen Yunusa (30), Zaharadeen Saidu (25), and Mustapha Haruna (22), were found with 22 motorcycles, multiple master keys, and stolen phones.
According to Igweh, the syndicate specializes in stealing, modifying, and selling motorcycles, which are then supplied to criminals, including Boko Haram operatives, active in parts of Niger State and Birnin Gwari Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
“The syndicate focuses on buying and selling stolen motorcycles in Suleja. They further sell or rent these motorcycles to criminals believed to be Boko Haram members terrorizing parts of Niger State and Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State,” Igweh explained.
The gang leader, Shamsuddeen, confessed to selling motorcycles at ₦200,000 to ₦250,000 each. He disclosed receiving ₦250,000 from a contact in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, as pa no need of touching himrt payment for a Bajaj motorcycle. Zaharadeen admitted to delivering motorcycles from Shamsuddeen to buyers, while Mustapha Haruna, the syndicate’s mechanic, repaired stolen motorcycles before delivery.
In a separate operation, Zone 7 operatives arrested Sunday Danlami, a member of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang in Benue State. Danlami confessed to participating in the kidnapping of 21 doctors in Benue in 2024. He also admitted to carrying out multiple robbery operations and using charms for protection during his crimes.
Igweh emphasized the police’s commitment to destabilizing criminal operations, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicates.
