Police arrest five over truck break-in, sheep, phone and transformer theft in Niger
Niger State Police Arrest Five in Connection to Various Crimes
The Niger State Police Command has apprehended five suspects linked to incidents of attempted truck break-ins, livestock theft, phone snatching, and vandalism involving electricity transformer components.
In a statement released on November 3 in Minna, Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun detailed that the arrests occurred between October 27 and November 3, resulting in the recovery of two sheep, a mobile phone, and tools believed to have been used in the truck break-ins.
On November 3, police operatives from Maje Division intercepted a vehicle along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway at approximately 4:15 a.m. The vehicle, driven by Alkasim Mohammed from Mararaba in Nasarawa State, was reportedly being used by him and three accomplices to target trucks transporting goods on major highways. The suspects attempted to break into a truck carrying pharmaceutical products from Onitsha to Kano, using chisels to damage the padlock and security seals.
While three accomplices fled into a nearby bush, Mohammed was arrested. Police recovered several items from the vehicle, including a jackknife, pliers, a hammer, and chisels.
In a separate incident in Suleja, officers arrested Suleiman Ibrahim, 34, after he was seen transporting two stolen white sheep toward Maje Market. The suspect was reportedly saved from an attempted mob attack before being taken into custody. He later guided investigators to the sheep’s owner, leading to the arrest of Zaiyanu Adamu, 50, who is accused of receiving the stolen livestock.
Additionally, police arrested Ishaq Abubakar, 31, for allegedly snatching a mobile phone from a 12-year-old boy in the Kwamba Mayor Area on November 3. The stolen handset was found concealed in Abubakar’s underwear after he was discovered hiding in a nearby bush.
Police also took Ibrahim Gada into custody for allegedly stealing transformer components belonging to a housing estate in an incident reported on October 28. Some items were recovered as efforts continue to locate the remaining components.
All five suspects are currently in custody and are undergoing investigation. Authorities are actively searching for the three accomplices who fled during the truck break-in attempt.
