By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The Borno State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects for theft of personal and government property in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local government area.
According to the command, the arrests were made during the recent floods in Gwange, Muna Garage, and the 505 Housing Estate along Dikwa Road.
Parading the suspects, on Thursday Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner, Yusufu Lawal, disclosed: “On September 28, 2024, at 11:00 am, acting on credible intelligence, four suspects were arrested for stealing six bags of rice, six mats, two cartons of pasta, and three sets of mosquito nets.”
He added that stolen relief items were distributed by the state government for the affected flood victims.
Additionally, all the suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court for prosecution.
On the imprecation in disguise, the commissioner further disclosed that Mohammed Umar, 25, of Gwange, was also arrested for in possession of a stolen food token card of a flood victim at Babagana Wakil Memorial School.
He noted that the suspect is being detained while a thorough investigation is ongoing.
Other arrests made include Abdullahi Hamza, 19, who was found in possession of two each of desktop computers and one each of a printer, stabiliser, computer mouse, and charger.
He said all the stolen items are from a submerged shop at the Post Office area of the metropolis.
During a joint patrol at the cattle market, Muna, Malakiyari, and Alkome areas, six suspects were also arrested for stealing a mattress, a Samsung IPAD, a goat, and a bucket of rice. Other items recovered from the suspects comprise two TV sets.
Lawal added that Haliru Ibrahim, 20, was also caught in an attempt to break into a shop already submerged by the flood.
