The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with motorcycle theft and illegal cannabis trade in the state capital.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the arrests followed intelligence-led operations ordered by the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu.
According to Wakil, operatives of the A Division acted on a tip-off about a motorcycle theft ring operating in Bakaro, Bauchi metropolis. A sting operation led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Musa Alhaji Hassan, resulted in the arrest of two suspects: Abdulhamid Auwal (20), alias Wala, and Aliyu Rabiu (20), alias Hitler.
The duo confessed to conspiring with accomplices to burgle the residence of one Baba Karami in Unguwar Sarkin Kofa, where they stole a Bajaj motorcycle. Investigations revealed that the stolen bike was dismantled, packed into a sack, and sold. Police linked the syndicate to several similar thefts in the area, implicating additional suspects, Mahmood Mahmood (alias Ankula) and one Ganiya.
In a separate operation, the Rapid Response Squad led by SP Suleiman Tambuwal arrested three suspects — Hussaini Lawal (20), Baba Sadiq Ibrahim (18), and Wada Yusuf (21) — on August 23 during a patrol at the Asorock Mountain area of Wuntin Dada.
The suspects were caught in an abandoned building while distributing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis. Items recovered include half a block of cannabis, six knives, scissors, PTF lighters, cigarette lighters, a container of shredded tobacco, and a locally constructed bunker.
One of the suspects, Lawal, reportedly admitted to peddling cannabis for over a year and gave up the names of his accomplices.
SP Wakil confirmed that all suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, while CP Aliyu reaffirmed the Command’s determination to curb crime and guarantee safety across Bauchi State.
