Police Bust Phone-Snatching Ring in Damaturu, Arrest Seven Suspects

Police Bust Phone-Snatching Ring in Damaturu, Arrest Seven Suspects

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu 

The Yobe State Police Command says it has arrested seven suspects linked to a string of burglary and phone-snatching incidents in Damaturu, the state capital.

The police said the arrests followed a coordinated operation targeting criminal activities in Nayinawa, Bindigari, One Million Road and Pompomari communities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said operatives of ‘A’ Division carried out the operation between April 16 and 19, leading to the dismantling of a suspected criminal syndicate.

“In a coordinated operation carried out by operatives of ‘A’ Division, Damaturu, a notorious criminal syndicate operating within the affected communities was successfully dismantled,” Mr Abdulkarim said.

He identified the suspects as Usman Mohammed (20), Abubakar Adamu (20), Mohammed Ibrahim (22), Mohd Goni (19), Khalifa Mohammed (19), Abubakar Mohammed (19), and Ali Mohammed (23).

The police spokesperson said the suspects confessed during interrogation to their involvement in multiple cases of burglary, theft and phone snatching across the affected areas.

“They admitted to stealing seven Android phones and two keypad phones. Six of the stolen phones have already been recovered,” he added.

Mr Abdulkarim said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, commended the operatives for their efforts and professionalism.

He directed sustained operations against criminal hideouts across the state and emphasised the need for intelligence-led policing.

The police also urged residents to support security agencies with credible information to strengthen ongoing efforts to tackle crime.