Police bust armed robbery syndicate, others in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has dismantled a six-man armed robbery syndicate in the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, informed journalists during a press briefing at the command headquarters on Wednesday.

He stated that, following a series of reports about the nefarious activities of a notorious syndicate of armed robbers terrorising Filin Polo quarters in Katsina metropolis and its environs, the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, swiftly deployed a team of operatives to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.

“The team promptly swung into action and successfully dismantled a six-man syndicate of notorious armed robbers terrorising Filin Polo quarters of Katsina metropolis,” he said.

The suspects are Ismail Hamza, aged 23, alias Dawale; Umar Faruq Aliyu, aged 20, alias Lauya; Yasir Jamilu, aged 19, alias Kwame; Abu Safiyanu, aged 20, alias Gije; Murtala Abubakar, aged 20, alias Muri; and Bello Yusuf, aged 25, alias Yellow. All are from Filin Polo quarters, Katsina, and were arrested following a sting operation.

He added, “On 30 July 2024, at about 02:20 hours, the suspects, armed with dangerous weapons such as knives and cutlasses, criminally conspired and trespassed into the house of Muntari Usman, aged 45, located in Filin Polo quarters. They attacked and robbed him of the sum of one million eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦1,850,000.00).

“Similarly, on 11 August 2024, at about 02:00 hours, the syndicate conspired with one Dan Bichi, who is currently at large, to trespass into the homes of Badiya Mansur, aged 20, and Fatima Mohammed, aged 40, stealing one sheep and one ram valued at two hundred and twenty thousand naira (₦220,000.00).

“On the same date, at about 02:30 hours, the syndicate trespassed into the house of Fatima Mohammed, aged 44, where they stole two phones: an Infinix valued at ₦50,000 and a Techno keypad valued at fifteen thousand naira (₦15,000).

“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the offences and further mentioned Bello Yusuf, alias Yellow, as their accountant and one Sa’idu, who is now at large, as an accomplice. Two sheep, one ram, and the sum of ₦1,850,000.00 were recovered as exhibits from the suspects. Investigations are still ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.”

He added that the command has also dismantled a five-man syndicate involved in motorcycle theft.