This is not a happy time for private and commercial vehicle owners in Kaduna State, given the spike in the number of stolen vehicles in the state.

Although statistics are not readily available, the Kaduna State Police Command recently confirmed that, in September alone, it dislodged several syndicates and criminals troubling the state, including those behind the theft of vehicles.

There are many victims of car theft or attempted car theft in the state groaning over their losses and near losses. One of such victims is Maria Musa. She told Daily Sun that she was attacked at Kawo, Kaduna, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, by 7 p.m. and nearly lost her car.

“The hoodlums were on a motorbike. They smashed the rear windscreen of my SUV with what seemed like a hammer or a steel rod. I didn’t stop. The exact spot is at the foot of the Kawo Bridge (direction of Zaria) before the two filling stations.”

A security consultant, Suleiman Usman Yusuf, described theft of cars in the state as worrisome. Yusuf, who is the CEO of Boldage Security and Gadgets, Kaduna, recalled that, “A few days ago, a brother of mine, who is a senior military officer, visited Kaduna and stopped over at Corporate Plaza on Isa Kaita Road to run a few errands.

“Unfortunately, his car, a Vibe, was stolen within minutes of parking. That was around 8 p.m.” Shockingly, the victim’s younger brother had experienced a similar misfortune. Some months earlier, at almost the same location (near Video Max) around 8:30 p.m., his Toyota Corolla was stolen barely three minutes after he stopped to buy shawarma.

Yusuf, who had worked in the office of the National Security Adviser years ago, recalled that, “About two months ago, I was also on the same street around 9:00 p.m. and met a man, whose Honda EOD had just been stolen moments before my arrival.

“While we were still discussing, another person joined us and narrated how two cars had been previously stolen along the same street not long before,” he told Daily Sun.

According to Yusuf, cases of car theft extended beyond Isa Kaita Road to other parts of the metropolis. He recalled that, “About a year ago, one of my elders had his Honda Civic stolen at Sultan Bello Mosque during Friday’s prayers. Around the same time, my uncle’s Toyota was also stolen at Dan Fodio Mosque during Juma’at prayers,” he lamented.

No place is spared. Yusuf recalled that, only recently, thieves struck at the Kaduna Central Market and Barau Dikko Hospital, where vehicles were stolen despite security measures such as exit-card systems that were put in place.

Yusuf hinted that many stolen vehicles were quickly moved out of Kaduna State. “For the first two incidents I mentioned earlier, the victims received calls within 12 hours that their personal identification items, such as ID cards had been found at Kwanar Dangora.

“This suggests that the vehicles were swiftly moved out of Kaduna shortly after they were stolen.”

He appealed to the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, and the Nigeria Police Force, Kaduna State Command, to take decisive measures to address the menace.

“I am not certain how much the Kaduna State government and the relevant security agencies are aware of this disturbing trend, but I am using this medium to draw their attention to the threat”.

He added that, “The rate at which cars are being stolen in Kaduna State is alarming. The more we discuss it openly, the better us all,” while urging residents to “Remain alert, report suspicious movements, and look out for one another”

Speaking on the development in an interview with Daily Sun, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mansur Hassan, however, explained that cases of car theft have considerably reduced in the state, while affirming that the police have made some arrests, including recovering some stolen vehicles. (The Sun)