A Nigerien and five others have been arrested for allegedly being involved in the supply of firearms, acts of vandalism and motorcycle theft in Jigawa State.
Spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, gave the names of those arrested in connection with the crimes are Bilal Faraji, a 29-year-old citizen of Niger Republic, and Yusuf A. Yusuf, a 28-year-old from Kazaure LGA, Jigawa State.
Sadiq said both suspects were identified as suppliers of firearms and ammunition to criminal elements operating in the Ringim area and its surroundings.
He said the suspects confessed to participating in the sale and distribution of firearms in both Kano and Jigawa States. implicating themselves in criminal activities.
Sadiq said the arrest followed a string of criminal incidents, including a burglary that occurred on September 28, 2023.
“One Sagiru Musa, a resident of Kakikankare village in Ringim LGA, reported that four armed individuals forcefully entered his residence, stealing his green-coloured Golf 3 wagon with registration number RNG 691 AA Jigawa State.
Apart from the vehicle, Sadiq said the suspects also took two Tecno phone keypads.
“The stolen vehicle contained various personal documents and valuable items such as an ATM card, Voter card, National ID card, Custom duty, Vigilante ID card, and vehicle particulars.
He said there was another crime on September 9, 2023, when Alhaji Ibrahim Jeke, the Chief Security Officer at Dutse International Airport, reported the theft of an air conditioning unit and the vandalisation of cable wires used for the glide slope and VOR systems at the airport.
“Prompted by the report, the Divisional Police officer mobilised a team to investigate the crime scene and apprehend the culprits.
“Fortunately, on 29th September, 2023, three suspects were apprehended in connection with the airport burglary.
Sadiq named the suspects to be Mutari Idris, Adamu Idris, and Yasir Iliyasu, who live at Bakin Ruwa village in Dutse LGA, Jigawa State, and Kara Makama village in Ajingi LGA, Kano State.
He said the police discovered four cartridges of a pump-action firearm, an axe, earth cables, connection wire condoms, armoured cables, and air conditioning fan blades from their residences.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects admitted to trespassing the airport premises and engaging in the vandalism of valuables,” he added.
