By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR MAIDUGURI
Borno State Police Command has paraded 36 suspects arrested in connection with 18 different cases ranging from rituals, culpable homicide, raping, vandalization, of electricity high tension wires and theft, among other crime within the two weeks of January 2023.
The, Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdu Umar who disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Police headquarters, Maiduguri on Friday, said those arrested included two different syndicates that were trying to vandalize high tension cable wires that provide electricity to Maiduguri and its environs, as well as the gas plant electricity plant under construction along Baga Road Maiduguri.
It would be recalled that Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and its environs have been without electricity for almost two years, due to vandalization of electricity tower that bring power to the city due to alleged vandalization by insurgents and other criminals
CP Umar added that, “the details of the arrest made so far four cases of criminal intimidation and being in possession of dangerous weapons, two cases of rape, three cases of theft, two cases of culpable homicide, six cases of criminal mischief of government properties, totalling 18 suspects.”
He further said based on the IGP Usman Alkali’s approval on the recruitment of 10,000 constables, Borno State Command has passed out 518 constables and deployed them to their various LGAs across the state to compliment and augment the personnel of the command in providing security during the forthcoming general elections.
The Police commissioner further said, “On 18/01/2023 at about 0800hrs, 1. Tujja Ali ‘M’ 18yrs 2. Modu Bilal ‘M’ 19yrs suspects were arrested at Benisheikh town with two (2) hundred and eighty three (283) pieces of bolt and nuts dismantled from a high tension electricity tower which they stole after dismantling same from a high tension electricity tower at Benisheikh axis. Suspects confessed to the commission of the crime.”
He said that they revealed that this is their second time of committing similar crime where they sold the 1st stolen property to one Mele (surname unknown) at Benisheikh. Concerted efforts towards the arrest the said Mele and the recovery of the items sold to him is being intensified.
“On 18/01/2023 at about 0800hrs, one Abdullahi Mohammed ‘M’ 22yrs suspect was arrested by crack operatives based on a tip-off while in possession of one (1) solar inverter valued at two million Naira (N2,000,000) suspected to be stolen. On a rigorous interview, the suspect confessed to have stolen it at a solar borehole in Njimtilo with one Musa Ajakuta (at large). The suspect at large is being trailed for arrest. All atrocities committed by the suspects are thoroughly being investigated.,” the CP added.
On the case of rape, the CP said, ” On the 30/12/2022 at about 0700hrs One Madam Rhoda Hassan ‘F’ of Walama Village Shani LGA reported at Shani Police Station that, On the same date at about 1200hrs, after returning back to her house she saw One Haruna Birma ‘M’ 50yrs of the same address who was coming out from her room.
The Borno State Police Commissioner, CP said, “as she was lighting the room that she suspected him, and started interrogating her daughter one Liyatu Hassan ‘F’ 13yrs. The girl confessed that the suspect raped her on the 24/12/2022, 28/12/2022 and on the 30/12/2022 respectively when she travelled out from the village. The suspect was arrested and the case is under investigation.”
CP Umar also said, “On the 5/01/2012 at about 0800hrs, One ASC Saleh Iliya Amos ‘M’ attached to Nigeria Correctional Service Borno State Command reported to the Police that on the same date at about 0700hrs he went to their family house located at Shagari Low Cost ‘B’ Maiduguri, and ordered the tenant to vacate the house as their biological mother is coming to stay in the house, that his younger brother, one Samson Iliya asked the tenant to stay in the house and he took a cutlass, threatened to kill him”
He said also that on the 19/01/203 at about 1521hrs, this case was transferred from Gwange Police Station to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department for further investigation.
“That on the 23/12/2023 at about 1820hrs, One Mustapha Ali ‘M’ of Ruwan Zafi area Maiduguri, reported at Gwange Police Station that, on the same date at bout 1340hrs, one Sadiq Musa ‘M’ of the same address, lured his daughter one Zainab Mustapha Ali ‘F’ 7yrs of the same address, and took her into their neighbour’s house situated at the same address, where he had sexual intercourse with her without her consent,” Umar said.
The Police boss further explained that following the report, the suspect was arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution, stressing that, the case has since been referred to Anti Human Trafficking section, while Inspector Christiana Isa was detailed for investigation.
While on culpable homicide, CP Umar said, “on the 13/01/2023 at about 1000hrs, one Yakubu Abubakar ‘M’ of Musari area Maiduguri, went and reported at Ibrahim Taiwo Estate Division that, on same date at about 0900hrs his younger brother, Mohammed Abubakar ‘M’ age 17yrs had a misunderstanding with one Abdulkarim Musa ‘M’ of the same address, where they fought among themselves.
During the fight Abdulkarim Musa jacked the neck of Mohammed Abubakr ‘M’ and started beating him with his hands and using his legs to trample the victim on the ground. As a result, the victim became unconscious and was rushed to the state specialist hospital, where he was certified dead by a medical doctor on duty.
The suspect was arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The Case has been assessed and referred to Culpable Homicide section SCIID for further necessary action.