Members of a six-member armed robbery syndicate terrorizing Katsina were among the suspects of various offenses paraded on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Katsina State police command.
The spokesman for the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu who briefed the press on behalf of the state police commissioner, Aliyu Musa, said the suspects were arrested during recent operations by the operatives of the command.
He added that some exhibits were also recovered in the operations.
The Command spokesman gave details of the arrest thus “Following the receipt of a series of reports on the nefarious activities of a notorious syndicate of armed robbers terrorizing Filin Polo quarters and its environs. The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, quickly drafted a team of operatives to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book. The team unhesitatingly swung into action and successfully busted a 6-man syndicate of suspected notorious armed robbers terrorizing Filin Polo quarters of Katsina metro, Katsina State.
The suspects: Ismail Hamza, m, aged 23 years Alias Dawale; Umar Faruq Aliyu ‘m’ Alias Lauya, aged 20 years; Yasir Jamilu’m’ Alias Kwame, age 19 years; Abu Safiyanu ‘m’ Alias Gije, aged 20 years; Murtala Abubakar, alias Muri, aged 20 years and Bello Yusuf, alias Yellow ‘m’, aged 25 years, and all of the filing Polo Quarters Katsina were arrested following a sting operation.
“On 30, July, 2024 at about 2.20 a.m the suspects, armed with dangerous weapons such as knives and cutlasses, criminally conspired and trespassed in to the house of one Muntari Usman, m, age 45, situated at Filin Polo quarters, attacked and robbed him of the sum of one million eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦1,850,000.00).
“Similarly, on August 11, 2024, at about 2.00 a.m, the syndicate criminally conspired with one Dan Bichi, now at large, to trespass into the houses of Badiya Mansur, f, age 20, and one Fatima Mohammed, f, age 40, and stole one sheep, one Ram valued at two hundred and twenty thousand naira (N220,000.00).
“Also on the same date, at about 2.30 a.m, the syndicate trespassed into the house of one Fatima Mohammed, f, age 44, where they stole two (2) phones: an Infinix valued at fifty thousand naira (N50,000) and a Techno keypad valued at fifteen thousand naira (N15,000).
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense and further mentioned one Bello Yusuf, alias Yellow, as their accountant, and one Sa’idu, now at large, as an accomplice. Two (2) sheep, one (1) Ram, the sum of one million eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦1,850,000.00) were recovered as exhibits from the suspects.
“Investigations are still ongoing with a view to arresting the fleeing suspect.
“On August 17, 2024, based on credible intelligence, the command succeeded in bursting a syndicate of notorious motorcycle thieves: Hamza Abdullahi, m, alias Malians, age 20; Umar Usman, m, age 30; Abubakar Tasi’u, m, age 19, and Aliyu Gambo, alias Ali Kere, m, all of Katsina metro.
“The syndicate specialized in stealing motorcycles parked at mosques by unsuspecting members of the public, especially during Magrib prayers within the Katsina metro, dismantling the stolen motorcycle, and selling the parts.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi involved the first suspect (Hamza Abdullahi) stealing the motorcycle from where it was parked and handing it over to Umar Usman, who in turn dismantled and sold parts of the motorcycles.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense and further mentioned one Aliyu Gambo alias Ali Keren; Abdulaziz Salisu, alias Mai Aluminium, m, age 30, and one Masa’udu Iliya alias Ayan, now at large, as his accomplices, where they were all traced and arrested.
“One motorcycle, one master key, and one identity card were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.
“On the 17 of August, 2024, at about 2.p.m, based on credible intelligence, the command has succeeded in arresting one Halilu Yusuf, m., age 21, of Gesawa via Shinkafi village, Katsina State, in connection with a suspected case of kidnapping of a six-year-old boy.
“On August 14, 2024, at about 7.p.m, the suspect lured and kidnapped the victim from Kofar Sauri quarters and demanded the sum of two (2) million naira (₦2,000,000.00) from the father of the victim as ransom to secure his release via an anonymous phone call.
“Upon receipt of the report, quickly, the DPO GRA KTN mobilized operatives and swung into action. The suspect was successfully traced and arrested, and the victim was rescued unhurt.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense. The investigation is still ongoing.
“The command has succeeded in arresting one Ibrahim Umar Gure, m., age 26, of Filin Polo quarters, Katsina, a suspected notorious tricycle thief terrorizing the state metropolis.
“On August 9, 2024, at about 2 p.m, a report was received through one Dahiru Sani, m, of Filin Polo quarters, Katsina, a commercial tricyclist, that on the same date, at about 1p.m, he parked his tricycle to perform Juma’at prayers. Upon conclusion of the prayers, he discovered that it was stolen from where it was parked.
“Upon receipt of the report, detectives swung into action, where they successfully traced and intercepted the suspect along Jibia-Katsina road in possession of the stolen tricycle. During investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offense and further mentioned one Auta, m; Audu, m; Muhammadu, m, and Ibrahim, m, now at large, all of Jibia LGA, as his accomplice.
“Efforts are being intensified with a view to arresting the fleeing suspects.”
