The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspected members of a gang allegedly involved in motorcycle theft, receiving stolen property and other violent crimes across Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna states.
The command said the suspects confessed to involvement in the alleged killing of nine people and the theft of at least 33 motorcycles.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu Adamu.
According to the police, the investigation began after one of the suspects allegedly attacked an Okada rider and stole his motorcycle in Aujara District, Jahun Local Government Area.
Police officers, working with local vigilantes, responded to the incident, recovered the motorcycle and arrested the suspect.
According to the statement, “The arrest subsequently led to the identification and apprehension of other alleged members of the syndicate operating across the three states.
“During a discreet and painstaking investigation, the suspects reportedly disclosed their involvement in the snatching of no fewer than thirty-three (33) motorcycles belonging to innocent members of the public in different locations across Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa states.”
The suspects admitted to taking part in violent attacks in which some victims were injured.
The statement added that the suspects reportedly confessed to the alleged killing of nine people during their criminal activities across the three states.
The suspects were identified as Ado Saleh, also known as Datti, 55, from Kawari village in Ajingi LGA, Kano State; Abdullahi Saidu, 37, from Kwanar Dangora village, Kano State; Magaji Danladi from Auramo Quarters, Ringim LGA; Sabiu Miko from Kaugama LGA; Habibu Dan Iya from Didi village, Gagarawa LGA; Shamsu Sani, 32, from Ajingi LGA, Kano State; Ali Salisu, 40, from Yanbaru settlement, Sule Tankarkar LGA; Alhassan Isa, also known as Tata, from Shuwarin, Kiyawa LGA; and Ado Ali from Baranda village, Dutse LGA.
The Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command, CP Tijjani Murtala, praised the officers involved in the operation and the Good Samaritan whose timely intervention helped the police recover the stolen motorcycle and arrest the first suspect.
CP Murtala, according to the statement, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Dutse to continue with a discreet and professional investigation.
He said the investigation should focus on identifying other suspected members of the gang, recovering more stolen motorcycles, determining the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and alleged killings, and prosecuting anyone found culpable in line with the law.
Police arrest nine over alleged theft of 33 motorcycles, nine killings in Jigawa