Katsina State Police Command has apprehended 22 suspects involved in theft and vandalism of public and private properties, recovering various stolen items in the process. ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the State Police Public Relations Officer, announced this at a news conference on Thursday. He noted that the arrests were part of the command’s efforts to tackle crime in the state. On August 24, the police arrested three suspects, including a woman, for alleged house trespass and theft in GRA Katsina Divisional Police Headquarters. The stolen items, valued at N10 million, included a freezer, plasma TVs, computers, dining furniture, and other equipment. Detectives acted swiftly to trace and apprehend the suspects.
In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed that they committed the offence and further mentioned one Aminu Masa, now at large, as their accomplice, and one Mariya Adamu as the receiver of their stolen properties
“Efforts are being intensified with a view to arresting the fleeing suspect as the investigation proceeds,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.
In a related development, the command’s spokesman added that on September 4, based on credible intelligence, the command succeeded in arresting a 12-man gang of notorious vandals of armored electric cables that specialised in terrorising the Katsina metropolis.
He said that the suspects were arrested following the receipt of a report through a good samaritan on their nefarious activities at Shaiskawa quarters, Katsina.
“Promptly, a patrol team was dispatched to the scene, where they succeeded in arresting the suspects; and bundles of suspected vandalised electric cables, iron rods, hammer, and an axe were recovered from them.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offence and further mentioned other seven persons, all at large, as their accomplices, and one Aminu Manya-Manya as the receiver of their stolen properties.
“Efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.
The spokesman said the suspects were intercepted at Kofar Marusa quarters, suspected to have vandalised the Kofar Marusa drainage, as 51 full-length, 10mm and 16mm iron rods were recovered from their possession.
According to him, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offence, as investigation is still ongoing.
