The Niger State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with a series of criminal incidents, including an attempted truck break-in, livestock theft, phone snatching, and the vandalism of electricity infrastructure. The arrests, carried out between October 27 and November 3, resulted in the recovery of two sheep, a mobile phone, and various tools allegedly used in the truck break-in attempts.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, disclosed the details in a statement issued in Minna. He noted that the operations targeted multiple crimes reported across different locations within the state, leading to the immediate custody of the five individuals.
In the most significant case, police operatives attached to Maje Division intercepted a Sharon vehicle along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway at approximately 4:15 am on November 3. The vehicle was driven by Alkasim Mohammed, a resident of Mararaba in Nasarawa State, who was allegedly operating with three accomplices to break into trucks transporting goods on major highways. The group had attempted to tamper with the padlock and security seals of a truck carrying pharmaceutical products from Onitsha to Kano using chisels.
During the interception, three of the accomplices fled into a nearby bush, while Mohammed was apprehended. Police recovered a jackknife, pliers, a hammer, and chisels from the vehicle. Abiodun stated that efforts are currently underway to locate and arrest the three suspects who escaped.
Other arrests included Suleiman Ibrahim, 34, who was detained in Suleja after being sighted transporting two stolen white sheep toward Maje Market. Police rescued Ibrahim from an attempted mob lynching before taking him into custody. He subsequently led investigators to the livestock owner, whose identification of the animals facilitated the arrest of Zaiyanu Adamu, 50, who is alleged to have been involved in receiving the stolen livestock.
Additionally, a 31-year-old man identified as Ishaq Abubakar was arrested on November 3 for allegedly snatching a mobile phone from a 12-year-old boy in the Kwamba Mayor Area. The handset was recovered from his underwear after police found him hiding in a bush. In a separate incident reported on October 28, Ibrahim Gada was arrested for the alleged theft of transformer components belonging to a housing estate, with some exhibits already recovered and searches continuing for the remainder.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
