The Bauchi state police command has arrested two suspects in connection with the vandalism and theft of state government property worth millions of naira at various project sites.
The suspects, identified as 26-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed Inuwa, a truck driver, and 17-year-old Ukasha Abdulmalik, a resident of Karofin Madaki, were caught red-handed on December 5, 2024, while loading stolen concrete kerbs belonging to the State Government into a truck.
Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, in a statement issued on Saturday, revealed that the operation leading to their arrest was led by SP David Silas of the Command’s Works Department in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Works.
According to the statement, Ibrahim, who is believed to be the mastermind, confessed to buying the stolen kerbs at the shocking rate of ₦350 each from unidentified individuals along Emir’s Drive in Bauchi.
He allegedly used his truck to transport the stolen items to his residence.
The police have since recovered the truck and the stolen concrete kerbs as evidence, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other suspects involved.
Similarly, the Command has apprehended three suspects linked to a notorious armed robbery syndicate operating in the state.
The arrests followed a raid by a patrol team attached to the ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters in the Sabon Layi area.
The first suspect, 40-year-old Suleiman Adamu, popularly known as “Baba Mai Ruwa,” was arrested with a locally-made revolver, eight rounds of live ammunition, three expended ammunition of 7.62mm calibre, and two motorcycle number plates.
Preliminary investigations led to the arrest of 30-year-old Adamu Sale, also known as “Dogo,” from Rafin Makaranta. Sale was identified as a key player in a series of armed robberies in Zaranda village.
The suspects were said to have confessed during interrogation to using the recovered firearm to rob three motorcycles.
The stolen motorcycles were sold to a third suspect, Jibrin Mohammed, aged 30, of the Railway Area in Bauchi.
Jibrin admitted to purchasing one of the stolen motorcycles but claimed the matter was resolved when the owner confronted him.
He further confessed to buying a second stolen motorcycle for ₦70,000, which he later sold to scrap metal buyers for ₦80,000.