A nine-man suspected robbery syndicate has been arrested by Police operatives attached to the Tafa Division of the Niger State Police Command.
This was contained in a crime bulletin issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune Online on Tuesday in Minna, adding that the suspects were arrested for conspiracy and belonging to a robbery syndicate
The statement added further that “on 20th July 2023 at about 0330hrs, based on intelligence received, Police operatives attached to Tafa Division intercepted a Volkswagen Sharon vehicle marked Lagos LKJ 739 BJ along Kaduna-Abuja highway at Sabon-Wuse in Tafa LGA of the state.
“The vehicle’s body was found to have been riddled with some bullet impacts and occupied by nine men suspected to be criminal-minded persons.
“It was further learned that the occupants were immediately arrested and they are; Mohammed Sani, Hakimi Abdullahi, Aminu Bello, Buhari Abdullahi, Tasiu Abdullahi, Bello Auwal, Kabiru Abubakar, Abdullahi Dabo and
Babangida Ibrahim.”
Preliminary investigation, according to the PPRO, revealed that the nine men specialised in targeting and monitoring faulty loaded trucks along Abuja/Kaduna road, Keffi/Jos road, Nasarawa/Akwanga road, and Minna/Suleja road.
He stressed that the syndicate was discovered to have been engaging in attacking and breaking trucks/containers and looting items/property contained therein.
He said, “during interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime and were said to have claimed that they have a warehouse at Akwanga where they keep the loot, adding that they were in the habit of selling the items in Kano state.”
The PPRO, however, accused the suspects of an attempt to bribe the DPO with the view to terminate the case with an offer of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).
He further disclosed that all suspects were arrested and transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Niger state Command, CP Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji has appreciated Nigerlites for their support and assured that the command in the state will continue to live up to expectations in the discharge of its statutory responsibility.
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