Kano police retrieve Hyundai stolen from St Thomas Church after three‑day search

The Kano State Police Command announced the recovery of a gold‑coloured Hyundai that was stolen from St Thomas Church on Airport Road, Kano, on 25 October 2026. The vehicle, bearing the registration LAGOS AA 444 BL, was handed back to its owner, Mr Uchenna Emmanuel, a resident of Sabon Gari Quarters, on 28 October after police traced it to the premises of Amino Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).

According to CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the police public‑relations officer, Emmanuel had parked the car at the church around 11 a.m. before attending the service. Upon returning, he discovered the vehicle missing and reported the theft to the police. The Special Intervention Squad (SIS) launched an intelligence‑led operation under the direction of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, leading to the car’s location at the teaching hospital on 26 October. An ambush was set up to apprehend the individual who had moved the car, but no one came forward to claim it.

Background

The theft occurred during a regular Sunday service at St Thomas Church, a well‑known place of worship on Airport Road. The stolen Hyundai was described as a gold‑coloured model, a detail consistently reported by both Punch and Vanguard. Following the report, the SIS conducted a rapid search, employing intelligence sources to track the vehicle’s movement. The car was found parked within AKTH’s compound a day after the theft, suggesting the perpetrators attempted to hide it in a busy public facility. Police later recovered the vehicle on 28 October and transferred it to the SIS office for investigation before returning it to Emmanuel.

The incident prompted the police commissioner to reiterate advice for motorists, urging the installation of security devices such as vehicle trackers, steering locks and pedal locks, and emphasizing the importance of locking vehicles when parked in public areas, including churches, markets and hospitals.

Why it matters

The recovery underscores the challenges of vehicle theft in urban Nigerian settings, where public places are often used for parking. Emmanuel’s experience highlights the vulnerability of motorists who leave cars unattended in communal spaces. The police’s swift response, credited by Emmanuel, demonstrates the operational capacity of the SIS and the effectiveness of intelligence‑led policing in Kano State.

The commissioner’s security recommendations aim to reduce future incidents, targeting both private vehicle owners and the broader public who may park in similar venues. Ongoing investigations seek to identify and apprehend the suspects responsible for the theft, reflecting the police’s commitment to pursuing the case despite the lack of immediate leads.

What happens next

Police have indicated that efforts remain ongoing to locate the individuals who moved the Hyundai to AKTH. The investigation continues under the SIS, with the possibility of further arrests pending the identification of the person who abandoned the vehicle at the hospital. No specific timeline for concluding the investigation has been provided, but the police have affirmed that they will maintain the search for the fleeing suspects.