BAUCHI POLICE ARREST PHONE SNATCHER, FOUR TEENAGERS OVER ALLEGED THUGGERY

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a suspected phone snatcher and four other suspects allegedly involved in separate acts of thuggery within Bauchi metropolis.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to Habib, the phone-snatching incident occurred on August 25 when a 25-year-old resident of Unguwan Mangororin Sale Toro, Bauchi Local Government Area, was observing a Maulud procession along Kofar Fada.

He said the victim reported that a 20-year-old man, identified as Abdullahi Abubakar of Unguwan Ardo, allegedly snatched his mobile phone valued at N50,000 and N30,000 cash.

The PPRO said that when the victim attempted to apprehend Abubakar, the suspect allegedly handed the stolen phone to two accomplices, identified as Al-Amin, alias Busy, and Babale Sule.

He added that Sule allegedly struck the complainant on the forehead with a stick, inflicting an injury, before Abubakar escaped from the scene.

“The victim was treated and discharged at Under 5 Hospital, Jahun. Following swift action by VCRU operatives, Abdullahi Abubakar was traced and arrested. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate and recover the stolen exhibit,” Habib said.

In a separate operation, the command said it received a distress call at about 9pm on Wednesday over an alleged disturbance involving thugs armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons in Mangororin Sale Toro, through Shingen Abba.

Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, working with community leaders, responded to the area and arrested three suspects.

They were identified as 18-year-old Manauwir Isa, 17-year-old Ayuba Umar Hassan and 18-year-old Umar Shuaibu, all residents of Mangororin Sale Toro.

The command also received another report at about 12:30am of a fight involving suspected thugs at Jaja, through the Jahun area of Bauchi.

VCRU patrol teams reportedly responded and arrested 20-year-old Yahaya Abdullahi of Gwabba, through Nassarawan Jahun, and 17-year-old Abdulrazak Rabiu of the same address.

The two suspects were allegedly found in possession of a sharpened cutlass.

“Consequently, a total of five suspects have been placed under detention in connection with the crimes. The three cases are under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices,” Habib said.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.

Aliyu reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state and urged residents to provide timely information to the police to aid crime prevention.

The command assured residents that it would continue to intensify efforts to protect lives and property across Bauchi State.