Cross-Border Raid: Nigeria Police Recover Stolen Lexus SUV, Toyota Hilux Smuggled To Burkina Faso

The Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja has announced the successful recovery and repatriation of a 2018 model Lexus SUV and a 2025 model Toyota Hilux that were snatched at gunpoint from their drivers in Abuja and trafficked to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 

According to a statement by NPF, the Lexus SUV was snatched on 3rd August, 2025, while the Toyota Hilux was similarly dispossessed on 20th February, 2026. The two vehicles were reportedly trafficked to Burkina Faso by a syndicate who specializes in cross-border vehicle trafficking within Nigeria and the Sahel region.

“Following requests for assistance from the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Energy and, separately, the Office of the Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board, INTERPOL NCB Abuja activated its cooperation channels with INTERPOL NCB Ouagadougou to trace and recover the vehicles.”

“Through the coordinated efforts of the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, and the intelligence counterparts at NCB Ouagadougou, both vehicles were successfully traced, recovered, and repatriated to Nigeria.” 

The repatriated 2018 model Lexus SUV and a 2025 model Toyota Hilux have since been formally handed over to representatives of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Office of the FCT Primary Health Care Board.

The Nigeria Police also disclosed that one suspect, identified as Issoufou Nagimou, was arrested during the operation, adding that the suspect has been charged before the High Court of Burkina Faso.

“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to deepening international police cooperation through the INTERPOL platform and to relentlessly pursuing criminal syndicates involved in cross-border vehicle trafficking, in furtherance of its mandate to protect lives and property.”

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