The Nigerian Police Force, Sokoto State command on Wednesday paraded 20 suspects for various criminal offence at the state headquarters.
The state Commissioner for police, CP Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje, while addressing journalists in the state revealed that suspects were arrested for cattle rustling, armed robbery, rape, kidnapping and other criminal offences across the state.
According to him, “One Hali Abubakar, Mohammed Bande, Ayuba Hassan, Umaru Danbaba, Ahmad Shehu, Umar Bala, Wakili Tudu, Nura Mustapha and Nasiru Sani all ‘males’ of Sokoto Metropolis reported at kwanni Police Station that on the same date at about 0200hrs, one Abubakar Mamuda, Aliyu Shehu, Yunusa Tukur, Alisa’u Abdullahi, Wadata Shehu and Aminu Muktar aka Matse criminally conspired with Abdulrasheed Shanau, Taju Mohammed, Tukur Abubakar, and Kabiru aka Bauri (now at large), armed themselves with cutlass, Sword and Sticks, invaded the Houses of the complainants respectively
“They attacked and robbed them of their Cows, Sheep and Goats and loaded them in one Ford vehicle with Reg. No. AA 344 BLE Sokoto.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they stole the animals from Bodinga and Dange/Shunnu LGAs, respectively from the houses of the owners.
“Twenty four (24) Sheep, eight (8) goats, eleven (11) Cows and three motorcycles were recovered in their possession, while attempt to bribe the patrol team with a sum of seven hundred thousand naira (N700, 000.00k) was rebuffed.
” On 27/01/2020 following a tip-off, Operatives of IGP STS Sokoto Sector stormed the hideout of one Samaila Alhaji Mamman, who is allegedly involved in cattle rustling and acting as an informant to bandits in the region, where a total of 41 cattles were recovered at Goronyo axis of Sokoto.
“Also on 11/02/2020 at about 2300hrs, Anti-Kidnapping Squad attached to State CID Sokoto, intercepted a vehicle at Kwanawa Area for a routine check and immediately the occupants disembarked from the vehicle they took to their heels.
“Upon search of the vehicle, four AK 47 Rifles were recovered concealed inside the vehicle, a Golf Car with Reg.No YAB 928 GB following credible intelligence, effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects.
“Also arrested is one Ahmad Usman ‘m’ of Arkilla Federal Low-cost area Sokoto by the team of Policemen attached to Arkilla Division, for criminally and deceitfully lured one Halima Adam ‘f’ aged 12 years into an uncompleted building at the same address and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
The Commissioner also disclosed that one Muhammadu Mustapha of Tarafa village was arrested in possession of a gun and stick which he used to robbed his victim of his Kasea motorcycle.
He further said, “Police patrol team attached to Sabon Birni Division, while on patrol along Chinabarka village Sabon Birni LGA Sokoto State, in possession of the sum of one million one hundred and sixty seven thousand nine hundred naira (N1,167,900:00k).
“He confessed that it was given to him by a notorious Kidnapper popularly known as Yellow to hand over the money to somebody still at large for purchase of motorcycles.
“One Bello Aliyu and Abubaka Bala both ‘m’ of Sokoto metropolis were apprehended at Usmanu Danfodiyo University premises in possession of master key which they used to open any vehicle or motorcycle while attempting to steal a motorcycle.
“The principal suspect Bello Aliyu was also found in possession of the sum of Two Hundred and ten thousand naira (N210,000:00k) and one Haojue motorcycle without registration number which he confessed stealing of two motorcycles in their previous operations”.
Finally, CP Ka’oje said one Najib Murtala and Samaila Abubakar both ‘males’ of school of Matric Sokoto went to U/Rogo Police Station and reported that on the same date at about 2300hrs, one Bilal Ishaku and Abdulrasheed Haruna both ‘males’ of GRA Police Barracks Sokoto, criminally conspired among themselves, armed with cutlasses and axe attacked and inflicted serious injury on one of the complainant’s head also robbed them of their handsets, one Tecno handset and one Itel handset value not yet ascertained.
“The suspects when arrested confessed to the crime, one Techno handset was recovered in their possession” he added.
The CP, however, warned residents of the state who have the intention of going into crime to desist, saying, the police under his watch will deal with them accordingly.