Yobe Police Arrest Motorcycle Snatcher, Fraud Suspect, Alleged Cattle Rustler

Yobe Police Arrest Motorcycle Snatcher, Fraud Suspect,  Alleged Cattle Rustler

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

The Yobe State Police Command says it has recorded major breakthroughs in its fight against crime, including the arrest of suspected motorcycle thieves, fraudsters, and cattle rustlers in different parts of the state.

The command disclosed that operatives attached to the Garin Alkali Division in Bursari Local Government Area arrested a suspected motorcycle snatcher identified as Abubakar Haruna, 30, from Lafiya, Lamurde, in Adamawa State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, reported that authorities apprehended the suspect on 17 May at approximately 4:00 p.m. after allegedly stealing a red Boxer motorcycle with registration number MKD 330 QF belonging to a victim along the Gashua-Potiskum road on the outskirts of Garin Alkali.

A police spokesperson said residents and sympathisers pursued the suspect after the incident in an attempt to stop him from escaping.

During the chase, the suspect reportedly rode the stolen motorcycle recklessly and knocked down a 72-year-old man, Sabo Yahaya, at Garin Goje village in the Jakusko Local Government Area.

The victim sustained a fracture on his left leg and was first taken to the Specialist Hospital in Gashua before being referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, for further treatment.

Mr Abdulkarim said the suspect was rescued from an enraged mob and is currently under investigation.

In another operation carried out around 5:50 p.m. the same day, police operatives arrested Musa Baba, 38, of Jumbam village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, over alleged fraud and deception.

The police said the suspect had been on their watch list for allegedly swindling unsuspecting residents in marketplaces using fake bundles designed to resemble cash.

Investigators revealed that the suspect usually arranged cut papers inside polythene bags to look like genuine currency notes before deceiving victims into handing over money.

Police said the suspect had earlier defrauded a teenager of N110,000 using the same method and was arrested while allegedly attempting another fraudulent act.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime, while officers recovered several bundles of cut papers packaged to resemble money.

The command also announced the arrest of a suspected cattle rustler, Usman Isa, 28, from Yusufari Local Government Area.

According to the police, the suspect was apprehended at Garin Alkali Market while in possession of a suspected stolen cow.

The police said investigations were ongoing to identify the rightful owner of the animal and trace other fleeing members of the syndicate.

The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security.