The Nigerian Police Force, Sokoto State Command, has arrested one Austin Anthony, an indigene of Delta State, along Birnin-Kebbi Road. He is accused of being a notorious gang leader terrorizing the state and specializing in car theft.
The suspect, who was on the command’s high watch list, was intercepted by a police patrol team from the Bodinga Division.
Briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Sokoto on Thursday, the spokesman of the command, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said the suspect, when accosted, identified himself as a military officer to evade arrest.
He stated that the arrest followed a complaint of car theft filed by Adamu Muhammad and Kabiru Shehu, both residents of the Badon Barade area of Sokoto. The complainants reported that, at about 4:00 a.m. on the same day, their vehicles—a Toyota Corolla LE (ash color) and a Pontiac Vibe were stolen.
ASP Rufai disclosed that during the investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime, and two additional stolen vehicles were recovered from him. Another suspect, Mansur Abubakar, of Gidan Dare Area in Sokoto, was also arrested. Austin Anthony identified five other gang members residing in different states, and the police have extended the investigation to those locations to apprehend them.
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Further findings revealed that the suspect had been using a complete set of army uniforms with the rank of Major to evade security detection. Other items found in his possession included fabricated master keys, sets of car keys, an Army ID card with the rank of Major, vehicle license plates, a Nigerian Army banner, army stamps, and shoulder badges.
ASP Rufai also revealed that Austin Anthony had previously been arrested by officers attached to the CID for possessing three stolen vehicles. He was arraigned in court on August 28, 2024, for a similar offense but continued his criminal activities while on bail.
“The suspect is an unrepentant criminal. Once the investigation is concluded, the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution,” Rufai added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, reaffirmed the commitment of the Sokoto State Police Command to apprehend all fleeing suspects.
He assured the public that the police would continue their efforts to dismantle criminal gangs, particularly those involved in violent crimes. He commended the people of Sokoto State, urging them to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and supportive of the police in maintaining peace, law, and order in the state.
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