From Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia
A suspected motorcycle theft and fake-documentation network has been uncovered in Lafia, Nasarawa State, following the arrest of four alleged members by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The suspects were arrested after the Nasarawa State Command acted on credible intelligence and carried out sustained surveillance and operational activities, the Command said.
Those arrested are Bello Usman, 21; Ahmad Haruna Wakili, 29, popularly known as “Babson” and described as the alleged leader of the syndicate; Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, 22; and Abass Ibrahim, who is suspected of producing and issuing fake motorcycle ownership receipts.
The Command’s Public Relations and Strategic Communications Officer, SC Jerry Victor, said preliminary findings suggested that the group was involved not only in stealing motorcycles but also in altering their identities and generating fraudulent documents to disguise their ownership.
“The Command is also investigating the possible involvement of the suspects in other related criminal activities,” Victor said.
The arrests have raised concerns over the growing sophistication of motorcycle theft, with the alleged syndicate reportedly combining physical theft with document forgery to make stolen motorcycles difficult to trace.
Among the items recovered were a Jincheng motorcycle, popularly known as “Rubber Rubber”; nine motorcycle number plates, including KRU 654QS-Nasarawa; a large iron cutter; several motorcycle keys and three motorcycle union identity cards.
Security operatives also recovered one handcuff, a complete NYSC uniform, five laptop hard drives, three knives, five scissors, two flash drives and ropes of different sizes.
Other exhibits included a Federal University student identity card, five ATM cards, six SIM cards, two wraps of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as pliers, screwdrivers, spanners and other tools suspected to have been used in the alleged operations.
The NSCDC urged residents who have lost motorcycles, number plates, identity documents or other items that may correspond with the recovered exhibits to visit its state headquarters in Lafia with valid proof of ownership.
Victor also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving motorcycle theft and fraudulent documentation, to security agencies.
The suspects remain under investigation as the Command works to determine the full extent of the alleged network and whether they are linked to other criminal activities in the state.