The Borno State Police Command paraded 78 suspected criminals arrested during various operations in the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government Areas of the state on Tuesday.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Yusuf Muhammad, who paraded the suspects in Maiduguri, the state capital, explained that joint raids were carried out at vulnerable points and hotspots, including uncompleted buildings within the metropolis and neighbourhoods around Yannono, Abuja Sheraton, Njimtilo, Bayan Quarters, Galadima, Kasuwan Shanu, Santiago, Bayan Texaco, Koren Tanki, Tashan Bama, London Ciki, Tudun Wada, Tashan Kano, and Borno Express.
Muhammad pointed out that the 78 suspected criminals arrested implicated themselves in several cases of conspiracy, armed robbery, homicide-related offences, violent crime, and other serious anti-social behaviour.
He said the arrested suspects are in possession of dangerous weapons such as knives, cutlasses, machetes, and axes to terrorise people, while others were found with illicit substances such as weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, bottles of “suck and die”, “rubber solutions”, tramadol, and exol tablets.
The police boss stressed that four suspected criminals were arrested in connection with the killing of a police officer.
“A group of hoodlums attacked F/No. 521281 PC Babagana Mala, attached to the police crack unit, and deployed to FOB at Malari village, Konduga LGA, along the artillery area, Maiduguri. The Police constable, who came home on permission, was stabbed with a sharp object on his back by his assailants.
“On receipt of distress, the police patrol team responded and rescued the victim to a Maiduguri specialist hospital for treatment, where he was later certified dead.
“Police undercover operatives obtained a video clip of the incident from a good Samaritan which led to the arrest of the following suspects identified as one Usman Audu ‘M’ aged 20yrs old, Hauwa Usman ‘f’ aged 20yrs, Aisha Musa ‘f’ 19yrs, Abba Bala ‘m’ 20yrs, Sunday Garba ‘m’ 21yrs, David Paul ‘m’ 35yrs, Mohammed Abubakar ‘m’ 19yrs, Jude Eze ‘m’ 37yrs, Amaechi Abdulsalam Afochibe ‘m’ 37yrs and Nduibuse Nnaji ‘m’ 34yrs. Case transferred to State CID for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.”
On ensuring transparent investigation and diligent prosecution, the CP said the command has centralised the process of investigation and prosecution of the suspects at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
“A syndicate of young women, namely Fatima Mohammed F aged 19 years old, Fatima Ali F aged 21 years old, Khadija Musa F aged 20 years old, and Maryam Garba F aged 19 years old, all of Dala area Maiduguri, were arrested by the police patrol team in possession of provisions and foodstuffs suspected to have been stolen from two shops located at Ngomari Airport area Maiduguri: one carton of maggi, one packet of spaghetti, one and a half jerrican of groundnut oil, one mosquito net, two cartons of Go-fresh drinks, two cartons of Go-fresh drinks, two boxes of safety matches, two boxes of safety matches, two measures of flour, spices, one packet of mosquito coil, and one bag of semovita belonging to Mohammed Adamu Umaru, both of Ngomari Airport Area Maiduguri.
“The young women went to the shops in flown gowns (HIJJAB) pretending to purchase some items; while one of them was pricing the goods, others were busy shoplifting and concealing the stolen items underneath their gown, which they loaded in a waiting tricycle, ridden by their male conspirator, Adamu Shettima, ‘m, 25 years old.”
The CP, however, assured that the arrest of 78 suspected criminals will reduce the fear of crime and improve quality of life issues and ease of doing business, particularly in Maiduguri metropolitan city and beyond.
“The Commissioner of Police wishes to advise parents to always show a keen interest in the type of friends and peer group their children or wards are associating with, who may have a negative influence on them.”
Muhammad called on religious leaders, community elders, and other relevant stakeholders to give the Police timely information on the activities of unpatriotic elements and suspected peddlers of drugs and other illicit substances who hibernate in their neighbourhoods.
“The Command shall remain resolute and committed in checking acts of lawlessness and excesses of youths, and I will like to use this medium to assure law-abiding citizens who have any useful information on criminal elements in their environs that their identity will be fully protected.
“The public is once again reminded to avail themselves of the Nigeria police Rescue-me apps, which can be downloaded on the Google Play Store and GSM No. 08130579204.”
