Police Arrest Nigerian Soldier, Accomplice Over Alleged Robbery and Car Theft

A Nigerian soldier and a civilian accomplice have been arrested by police for allegedly stealing a Toyota Hilux vehicle in Lagos and attempting to transport it to the South-South region of the country. The suspects were intercepted while en route with the stolen car, and investigations revealed that the soldier is attached to Operation Delta Safe in Bayelsa State.

Sources confirmed that the soldier attempted to use his military identity to evade arrest when confronted by police officers. He had reportedly been accompanying the civilian in a bid to ease passage through checkpoints along the highway.

According to a source familiar with the case, the plan was to sell the stolen vehicle once they reached their destination, but they were tracked and apprehended by law enforcement officials.

This incident follows closely on the heels of a separate case involving another soldier accused of armed robbery and attempted murder in Minna, Niger State. In that case, Private Sadiq Sani allegedly attacked a businessman, Abdulrahman Salihu, on Eid-el-Fitr day at his clothing shop. Witnesses said the soldier had posed as a customer and requested the trader’s bank details for a transfer. When the trader insisted on confirming the payment before handing over the goods, the soldier allegedly stabbed him repeatedly with a knife, severing one of his arms, before fleeing the scene.