In a significant breakthrough, the Bauchi State Police Command has successfully apprehended a notorious gang of thieves with expertise in stealing industrial power generators in Azare, situated in the Katagum Local Government Area of the state.
Addressing members of the press in Azare on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police CP Auwal Musa Muhammad revealed that the gang has confessed to orchestrating a series of thefts in prominent locations, including the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the vicinity near the NTA station within Azare town.
The suspects have been identified as follows:
- Adamu Ibrahim, aged 30, hailing from Zigau in Shira Local Government Area.
- Ibrahim Adamu, aged 22, resident of Azare.
- Musa Aliyu, also known as “Manager,” aged 48, originating from Gwoza, Borno State.
- Umar, of Azare.
- Alh Sani, from Kano State.
- Sani Adamu, aged 22, hailing from Gadau, Itas-Gadau LGA.
- Rilwanu Saidu, from Kano State.
- Victor Moses, aged 29, residing in Hotoro via Fagge LGA, Kano State.
- Isaac Success, aged 35, resident of Sabon Gari, Kano State.
- Adamu Ahmad, from Azare town, Katagum LGA.
- Destiny Ihekwoabah, aged 35, hailing from Dutsen Bukuma, FCT Abuja, who received some of the stolen generators.
The police successfully recovered seven Mikano generators from the gang.
During their interrogations, Adamu Ibrahim stated that he had been introduced to the gang through Umar Abdullahi, a friend of Alhaji Sani from Kano State. Adamu confessed to participating in two operations in Azare and received ₦60,000 from the first operation and ₦50,000 from the second operation, led by Alhaji Sani.
Ibrahim Adamu corroborated Adamu’s statement and admitted to receiving ₦30,000 from the proceeds of the crimes.
Musa Aliyu, also known as “Manager,” who previously resided in Mopol base Dutse, Jigawa State, revealed that he participated in various criminal operations. In his first operation with the gang, they targeted an MTN mast on Azare-Giade road, where they incapacitated the security guard and made off with a Mekano Marapko generator in 2022. In 2023, he participated in two additional operations, stealing Mikano Generators from the Cold Room medicine store near the NTA Television station in Azare and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Azare Study Center along Kano-Azare road. Musa Aliyu profited ₦50,000 from the first operation and ₦30,000 from the second operation. He also confessed to participating in other thefts in Jigawa and Kano States, stealing various items and making ₦55,000 from these criminal activities.
Sani Adamu, aged 22, hailing from Gadau in Bauchi State, confessed to participating in the two operations at the Medicine Cold Store and NOUN in Azare. He profited ₦80,000 from these criminal activities.
Adamu Ahmad, a habitual and unrepentant criminal, aged 33, from Matsango area of Azare town, confessed to multiple criminal activities within and outside of Azare. He engaged in an operation to vandalize a transformer’s oil in December 2022 and was subsequently arraigned in court. Upon his release, he joined this gang and participated in the attack on the National Open University, which resulted in the death of a security guard and the theft of a Mekano generator. The generator was sold to Destiny Ihekwoabah in Abuja.
Kabiru Haruna, aged 35, from ‘Yan Lemo Na’ibawa, Kano State, confessed to participating in two operations at the Medicine Cold Store and the National Open University in Azare. He profited ₦400,000 from these criminal activities.
Victor and Isaac also confessed to participating in two operations orchestrated by the gang in Azare, leading to the assault of a security guard during the operation at the National Open University, which tragically resulted in the guard’s death. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on apprehending the remaining accomplices who remain at large. Following their capture, the suspects will face charges and prosecution in court.