The Niger State Police Command has arrested a hotel worker, identified as Elijah Ahmed, over the alleged theft of eight refrigerators from the hotel where he was employed.
Ahmed, who is reportedly from the Tunga area around Abdulsalam Motor Park, was arrested by police operatives attached to the Tudun-Wada Division following a complaint about the missing appliances.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed the development in a statement issued at the weekend.
According to the police, investigations into the complaint led to the recovery of five of the eight refrigerators allegedly stolen by the suspect.
The remaining three refrigerators were reportedly sold to a scrap dealer operating in the area.
Abiodun said the scrap dealer, who allegedly purchased the three refrigerators from the suspect, was no longer available when police operatives attempted to locate him and was subsequently declared wanted.
The police spokesperson said the investigation established that Ahmed allegedly removed the eight refrigerators from the hotel where he worked before disposing of them through different means.
“Based on a complaint, one Elijah Ahmed of Tunga, Abdulsalam Motor Park area was arrested by police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division for stealing eight refrigerators in a hotel where he works,” Abiodun stated.
He added that five of the stolen refrigerators were recovered during the investigation, while the suspect had already sold the remaining three to a scrap dealer in the area.
“During investigation, five of the refrigerators were recovered from him while he had sold three others to a scrap dealer in the area who is currently at large,” the police spokesperson said.
The command said efforts were ongoing to locate the scrap dealer and recover the remaining items.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed that the suspect had been charged before a court for prosecution.
The case highlights the role of police investigations in tracing stolen property and identifying individuals allegedly involved in the disposal of suspected stolen goods.
The Niger State Police Command reiterated its commitment to investigating reports of theft and other criminal activities across the state, while urging residents and business owners to promptly report suspicious activities to the authorities.
