Kano police recover suspected stolen solar inverters worth N59.2m, arrest suspect
Kano Police Recover Stolen Solar Inverters, Make Arrests in Fuel Theft Case
KANO, Nigeria — The Kano State Police Command announced the recovery of 160 suspected stolen solar inverters valued at approximately N59.2 million. The recovery followed intelligence provided by a community policing stakeholder.
CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Police Public Relations Officer, detailed the operation in a statement issued Saturday. The recovery marks one of two significant breakthroughs achieved by the command in a span of 48 hours, involving officers from the Sharada Police Division and the Special Intervention Squad (SIS).
According to the statement, detectives from the Sharada Police Division were alerted on July 29 to a man selling large quantities of solar inverters at unusually low prices. Officers apprehended the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Abdullahi Isah, during a subsequent operation. This led them to an uncompleted building in Haye Quarters along the Western Bypass Road in Kano, where the inverters were located.
Police believe the recovered inverters, specifically 160 units of 6.5KW/48V models, were stolen. The command has urged individuals who own or have recently lost solar inverters matching this description to visit the Sharada Police Division for identification and potential recovery.
“The items are reasonably suspected to have been stolen,” the statement read. Ongoing investigations aim to trace the origin of the items and identify any additional suspects connected to the case. Authorities stated that the suspect will be charged in court following the completion of investigations.
In a separate operation, police arrested three individuals in connection with the theft of six fuel dispensing machines, valued at about N10.2 million, from Jajire Filling Station in Aku Village, located along Maiduguri Road in Gaya Local Government Area.
The theft occurred in the early hours of July 25 when armed assailants overpowered security guards, bound them, locked them in a security room, and stole the machines. Following the report later that day, the Special Intervention Squad initiated an investigation, leading to the arrests of three suspects on July 29.
The suspects are Bishir Abubakar, 60, from Gafai Ward in Katsina State; Shamsu Abdullahi, 30, from Kofar Kaura Ward in Katsina State; and Alhaji Shamsu Lawan, 56, from Filin Polo in Katsina State. During questioning, the suspects admitted to purchasing the stolen machines from Usman Ibrahim of Kaduna State for N5.2 million. Ibrahim remains at large.
The Kano State Police Command is continuing efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen machines. The arrested individuals will also face charges once the investigations conclude.
