CRIME
Police Smash Notorious Car Theft Syndicate in Jos, Sokoto
By Gom Mirian Abuja
The Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) has smashed a two-man car stealing gang led by one Bashir Isiaku, aged 34, notorious for stealing cars from the car park of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Plateau state.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DCP Frank Mba, said the arrest of Bashir, a graduate of one of the Federal Polytechnics, came after painstaking efforts and investigations by operatives of the STS to hunt down the criminals.
He said, Bashir and his accomplice, Aminu Yakubu specialized in using customized master key, crafted out of screwdriver to open and start vehicles.
Saying the Police investigations show that their choices of cars are ones without special security features such as pedal or steering locks.According to him, twenty – one (21) vehicles have so far been recovered from the hoodlums and their criminal receivers which invlude: Rilwanu Garba, Ibrahim Hassan, Kabiru Aliyu, Sikiru Danjuma, Bashir Abba, Dodo Danbello, Mudeen Adelera, Nasiru Bello, Hassan Bawa, Magazine Garba, Yushehu Abdullahi, Abdurazaq Adekoya and Kabiru Aliyu have also been arrested in Funtua, Sokoto, Kucheri, Tsafe, Gusau and Marafa.
Adding that the recovered vehicles comprise 2 Opel Vectra, 1 Toyota Camry, 1 Honda CRV, 2 Toyota Carinae, 7 Golf-3, 1 Toyota Corolla, 6 Honda Civic and 1 Toyota Avensis.
The suspects claimed that they found it easy to steal in JUTH due to the lax security at JUTH premises and prefered Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen especially the Golf brands of the high demand by receivers, either in whole or in parts across the country and other neighboring countries.
The Police spokesman, while calling on members of the public whose cars were stolen between January 2019 and March 2020, within the premises of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to come forward for possible identification and recovery, urged Nigerians to take extra measures to securetheir vehicles.
Mba also encourages institutions and organizations to enhance security and access control within their premises to minimize the possibility of theft and other mischief by criminals.
Meanwhile, a 28 year old female armourer, Fatima Garba has been arrested alongside her gang of kidnappers and armed robbers, notorious for attacking innocent Nigerians around Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger States.
Mba said Fatima was responsible for ensuring the safety of the weapons used by the gang whenever not in use.
He said she confessed of being the gang’s armourer for over a year and also claimed to receive a handsome reward each time the weapons were returned to her after each operation.
She acknowledged knowing that the arms which she usually kept in a neatly dug hole in her compound were used for robberies, kidnapping and other criminal purposes, Mba said.
Investigations showed that Fatima, who is a trader and single mother of two was recruited by her boyfriend Abubakar Usman.
Other members of the gang include Samaila Usman ‘m’ aged 28, Mohammed Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 30, Mohammed Agali ‘m’ aged 22, Dahiru Bello ‘m’ aged 33, Shamsu Mohammed ‘m’ aged 30, Mohammed Usman ‘m’ aged 37, Umar Abdullahi ‘m’ 33, Buhari Abubakar ‘m’ aged 33 and Abubakar Garba ‘m’ aged 37.
According to him, items recovered from the gang include: 5 AK47 rifles, 1 G3 rifle, 1 Berretta pistol, 1476 rounds of ammunition, 36 rounds of G3 ammunition, 6 AK47 magazines, 1 operational vehicle, 8 mobile phones and box containing operational tools.
Mba said the gang is estimated to have made over N12 million from their various criminal escapades.
He said all the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
The Nigerian Police Command in Borno has apprehended two suspects and recovered 25 stolen mobile phones during a stop-and-search operation along Damboa Road, in Maiduguri.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Daso explained that the suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubako, and Ibrahim Mohammed, were intercepted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Dec.
10 while riding a tricycle.He said that during the search, the operatives uncovered various mobile phones reportedly stolen from individuals across communities and villages along the Borno -Adamawa State border.
He identified some of the communities as Mubi, Tashan Alade, Miringa, Kwaya Kusar, and Biu Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to snatching the phones from their victims.
“The police have initiated efforts to return the recovered devices with their rightful owner.
“Also, the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.
Daso reiterated the commitment of the Police Commissioner in the state, Yusufu Lawal, to maintain public safety during the Yuletide season. (NAN)
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
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