Police arrest 26 suspects in Gombe

THE Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Mr Muhammad Mukaddas, on Tuesday in Gombe, said the Command had arrested 26 suspects for various offences in the last one week in the State.

Mukaddas who disclosed this in a statement said the suspects were arrested at different locations in the state with locally made guns and knives.

He said the personnel of the command were more proactive in combating crimes and criminalities in all parts of the state in line with its constitutional mandate.

“The command will continue to be proactive in order to combat, prevent and detect crime and criminalities in the state in line with our constitutional responsibilities.

He said motorcycle theft was the commonest with suspects coming in from neighbouring states to commit the crime, adding that when stolen the motorcycles were usually taken to other states.

The commissioner said that the arrest was part of the command`s efforts to rid the state of criminals.

ALSO READ: NCC To Fund Technological Research In Tertiary Institutions

“We were able to trail and arrest a 9-member syndicate who planned their operation while in prison,” he said.

He said that other offences committed by the suspects include: criminal conspiracy, rape, culpable homicide, robbery, housebreaking and trespass.

The police boss said seven motorcycles, locally made guns and knives were recovered from the suspects.

He said there had been a significant reduction in cases of rape recorded in the state, adding that the series of sensitisation at the grassroots were yielding the needed results.

He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded..

One of the suspects, Boniface Babangida, a father of five, accused of raping a 5-year-old girl told NAN that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Babangida said: “I saw two sisters who are the children of my neighbour I sent the elder sister to buy me ‘bobo’ juice and then took the girl inside my room and raped her.

He advised youths to desist from taking alcohol and shun other social vices which could put them in the police net.

NAN reports that 10 of the suspects were arrested for motorcycle theft, five for attempted homicide, four for stealing, three for cult-related activities and four for rape.