‘How we bought over 100 exotic cars from robbers, kidnappers’

Operatives of the Inspector-General- of-Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris’s Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested some men, who confessed to have received over 100 exotic cars from suspected kidnappers and robbers.

The suspects, without mincing words, said they bought the cars, quite aware they were stolen ones. They also admitted to have received the cars from kidnappers and armed robbers. The men said they used to dine and wine with suspected robbers and kidnappers.

The suspects have been identified as Abdulrahman Hassan 42, aka Risi, Abubakar Datti 45, aka Baballiya, Aminu Adamu Yakasi, 49 and Shuaibu Yahaya 48.

The all the suspects were said to have been arrested in Kano State.

One of the suspects, Yakasi, confessed to have sold a stolen car, to the leader of the gang that kidnapped Mikel Obi’s father.

Yakasi said: “I sold a Peugeot 607 to one Dogo who took part in the kidnap of John Mikel Obi’s father. When the police arrested Dogo, he told them that I sold a vehicle to him. The police came after me. I ran to Niger Republic. I hide there for a week before I returned to Nigeria. I was arrested after I returned.”

The crackdown on the suspects began after IRT operatives arrested some suspects for the kidnap of

the Deputy High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Major-General Alfred Claude-Nelson and the Executive Director of Dangote Group, Engineer Alhaji Mansur Ahmed.

A police source said: “It was after the arrest of those that  kidnapped the Deputy High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Major-General Alfred Claude-Nelson and the Executive Director of Dangote Group, Engineer Alhaji Mansur Ahmed, which further revelations were made by suspected kidnappers.

“The suspects mentioned syndicates that specialised in receiving victims’ cars from them. It was based on follow up to their confessions that IRT operatives moved to Kano State. The four suspects were arrested.  They confessed to have received more than 100 exotic cars from different gangs of armed robbers and kidnappers. One of the cars is the 4-Runner Jeep of the Deputy High Commissioner. The syndicate usually moves the cars to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries. They hand the cars over to various agents. One of the agents has been identified as an Alfa. The Alfa is the one in possession of the 4-Runner Jeep of the Deputy High Commissioner. Others agents are Garba, Dauda and Mallam Haruna.”

Hassan said he used to sell rams at Dei-Dei Market, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, before one Usman Zamfara initiated him into the business of receiving and selling stolen cars in 2009.    

He was first arrested in 2011 by policemen from Delta State, charged to court and jailed for receiving a stolen Honda CRV from one Ebele, in Warri Delta State.

Hassan said that after Ebele was arrested, he led policemen to arrest him. Rather than quit buying of stolen vehicles, Hassan went back to his old ways after leaving prison.

Hassan said: “I got bailed a year later and went back to my business.  In 2015, I met Suraju, who is now dead. He promised to always supply stolen cars to me. He gave me two cars; a Toyota Lexus 300, which I bought for N350, 000 and Honda Accord Hennessey, which I bought for N150, 000.”

According to Hassan, before Suraju died, he linked him to Balarabe Mohammed. The said Mohammed sold a stolen Toyota Corolla 2002 model, to Hassan for N450, 000 and 2009 model Toyota Four Runner, which he bought for N1.2m. 

Hassan said: “I sold these vehicles to one Alfa who is based in Niger Republic.  I sold the Toyota Corolla for N700, 000 to Alfa. He also bought the Toyota Four Runner for N1.6m. Alfa paid N650, 000 for the Lexus and N330, 000 for the Honda Hennessey. I knew the vehicles were all stolen ones. That was why I don’t sell them in Nigeria. I took them to Niger Republic.”

He explained that Mohammed also brought a 2014 model Audi Squadron Saloon car, which he bought for N700, 000. He later sold the car to Garba Maradi,  living in Maradi Town, Niger Republic. He sold it for N1m.

Hassan said: “I received two Honda Hennessey cars, 1998 Models from Babagana. I bought each for N400, 000. I bought a Volkswagen Golf car, from Alhaji Tasiu of Plateau State for N350, 000. I gave these vehicles to my ‘boy,’ Abubakar Datti, who moved them to my new buyer, Maradi, in Niger Republic. I was paid N1.4m for the three vehicles. I gave Datti, N170, 000 as his share and kept the rest.  After my arrest by the IRT operatives, I assisted in recovering one of the vehicles, which was the 2014 Audi Squadron. I was forced to refund the sum of N500, 000 to Maradi. My son went to Niger and brought the vehicle to the police.” 

Another suspect, Yahaya, an engine oil merchant, who also sells spare parts, said he ventured into buying and selling of stolen cars in 2012.

He said his friend; Ali Yahaya, introduced him to the business. He said Ali supplied him four vehicles; Honda Haller, Brama Honda, Honda Civic and Honda Arcadia.

He sold the Haller to a medical doctor for N220, 000, the Brama for N270, 000, Civic for N180, 000 and the Arcadia to a banker for just N200, 000.

Yahaya said: “I got my commissions from the proceeds of the sales of the cars. But a few months later, Ali was arrested by policemen from Zone 1 Police Command, Kano State. He led them to arrest me.  I was charged to court and sentenced to three years.”

Just like his friend Hassan, Yahaya went to his vomit after leaving prison.

He said that moments after leaving prison, a contact supplied him a 2013 model, Toyota Camry car. He sold it to Daudu Maradi, in Niger Republic for N400, 000. 

He said the car was supplied by Suraju. After selling it, he gave Suraju N350, 000 and took N50, 000 as his commission. He said this happened just five months ago.

Yahaya said: “Later, I met one Abubakar Datti. He gave me one Toyota Sienna, which I sold to Maigida, residing in Nassaraw State. Maigida paid N400, 000 for it.  Datti also brought another Toyota Camry, which I took to Maidiga again. He paid N350, 000.”

Narrating his own story, Yakassi said he started receiving stolen cars in 2008. In 2010, he bought a stolen 1986 model Honda Accord Saloon car from one Alhaji Mohammed. He paid N300, 000 for the car. Alhaji Mohammed was later arrested and he led the police in arresting Yakassi.

Yakassi recounted: “After I was released, I went back to my business. I received a 2010 Toyota Camry from one Dikko. I paid him N1m. I drove the car to Niamey in Niger Republic and sold it to one Iliya for N1.5m.  I was later arrested by policemen from Kano State. I was charged to court. I spent eight months in prison before I was granted bail. A month ago, I received a Toyota Hilux from one Jibril Danfulani, who had links with a notorious robbery and kidnap gang.  I paid him N900, 000.  I drove the vehicle personally to Maradi Town and sold it to one Mallam Haruna. I sold it to him for N1.3m.  I also bought three vehicles; two Toyota Carina E cars and one Mercedes Benz. One of the Toyota Carina cars was from one Baffa. I bought it from him for N300, 000 and bought the second one from Afamtama, in Bauchi State, for N130, 000.  I bought the Mercedes Benz for N500,000. When I was arrested by IRT, they recovered the last three vehicles from me.”

Yakassi further confessed to have also assisted a syndicate that specialised in hijacking loaded trucks on expressway, to get buyers.