By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nasarawa State Command, has arrested four suspected members of a motorcycle theft and document forgery syndicate operating in Lafia, the state capital. The suspects were apprehended following intelligence-led operations conducted by the Command.

The arrested suspects were identified as Bello Usman, 21; Ahmad Haruna Wakili, 29, popularly known as “Babson” and believed to be the syndicate’s leader; Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, 22; and Abass Ibrahim, who is alleged to specialise in producing fake ownership receipts and other fraudulent documents. Two other suspects, Musa Auta, also known as “Boss,” and Salihu Ahmadu, alias “Super” or “Officer,” are currently on the run.

According to the NSCDC, preliminary investigations revealed that the group was involved in motorcycle theft, alteration of motorcycle identities, and the production of forged ownership documents used to facilitate the sale of stolen motorcycles. Authorities are also probing the suspects’ possible links to other criminal activities within and outside the state.

Items recovered during the operation included a Jincheng motorcycle, nine motorcycle number plates from different states, an iron cutter, several motorcycle keys, side mirrors, a complete National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform, five mobile phones, a laptop hard drive, flash drives, ATM cards, SIM cards, ropes, knives, scissors, handcuffs, and various mechanical tools believed to have been used in the suspects’ operations. Security operatives also recovered two wraps of a substance suspected to be cannabis.

Speaking on the development, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Commandant Brah Samson Umoru, urged members of the public who may have lost motorcycles, number plates, identity cards, or related items to visit the Command Headquarters in Lafia with valid proof of ownership for possible identification and recovery. He noted that the recovered exhibits could provide crucial leads to uncovering additional members of the criminal network.

Umoru reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with other security agencies to dismantle criminal syndicates across the state. He warned criminal elements that Nasarawa would not serve as a safe haven for unlawful activities and called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or incidents to security authorities. Investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects.