Police bust suspected syndicate targeting Bolt, Uber drivers in Abuja

Police bust suspected syndicate targeting Bolt, Uber drivers in Abuja

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested four suspected members of a vehicle theft syndicate accused of targeting Bolt and Uber drivers by posing as genuine passengers before robbing them of their vehicles and valuables.

The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar, were apprehended by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following an intelligence-led operation aimed at dismantling criminal gangs involved in attacks on commercial ride-hailing drivers across Abuja.

Confirming the arrests, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the suspects were tracked and arrested on July 7, 2026, after police received credible intelligence about their activities.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly specialised in targeting drivers operating on Bolt, Uber and other ride-hailing platforms by disguising themselves as legitimate passengers.

She explained that the suspects would book trips through e-hailing applications and lure unsuspecting drivers to predetermined locations, where they allegedly attacked the victims, dispossessed them of their vehicles and personal belongings, and fled the scene.

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“The suspects operate by posing as regular passengers, booking commercial vehicles through e-hailing platforms before attacking the drivers and dispossessing them of their vehicles and other valuables,” Adeh said.

During the operation, police recovered two suspected stolen vehicles believed to have been taken from victims during previous attacks. The recovered vehicles include an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4 with registration number YAB 240 DL and a grey Honda Civic bearing registration number ABC 72 JP.

Investigators are working to establish the ownership of the recovered vehicles and determine whether they are connected to other reported cases involving attacks on ride-hailing drivers within the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states.

Police authorities also said efforts are ongoing to trace additional stolen vehicles, identify more victims and apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network who may still be at large.

SP Adeh confirmed that the four suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The latest arrests form part of the FCT Police Command’s ongoing crackdown on organised crime, particularly syndicates targeting commercial drivers through digital ride-hailing platforms. In recent months, security agencies have intensified intelligence-driven operations to combat vehicle theft, armed robbery, kidnapping and related crimes within the nation’s capital.

The command has also urged drivers using Bolt, Uber and similar ride-hailing platforms to remain vigilant, carefully verify trip requests where possible and immediately report suspicious passengers or unusual travel patterns to security agencies.

Safety experts have similarly encouraged e-hailing drivers to make full use of in-app safety tools, including emergency alert features, trip-sharing options and identity verification systems, while avoiding isolated locations whenever possible without first assessing potential security risks.

The FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting residents, tackling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all those involved in violent crimes are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

 

Police bust suspected syndicate targeting Bolt, Uber drivers in Abuja