Six arrested for phone snatching, thuggery in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a suspected phone snatcher and five alleged thugs in separate operations within the Bauchi metropolis.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to Habib, the phone-snatching incident occurred last Monday,  when a 25-year-old resident of Unguwan Mangororin Sale Toro, Bauchi Local Government Area, was observing a Maulud procession along Kofar Fada.

He said the victim reported that a 20-year-old man, identified as Abdullahi Abubakar of Unguwan Ardo, allegedly snatched his mobile phone valued at N50,000 and N30,000 cash.

Habib explained that while the victim attempted to apprehend Abubakar, the suspect allegedly handed the stolen phone to two members of his syndicate, identified as Al-Amin, alias Busy, and Babale Sule.

He added that Sule allegedly hit the complainant on the forehead with a stick, causing an injury, while Abubakar escaped.

“The victim was treated and discharged at Under 5 Hospital, Jahun. Following swift action by VCRU operatives, Abdullahi Abubakar was traced and arrested. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate and recover the stolen exhibit,” the PPRO said.

In a separate incident, Habib said the command received a distress call at about 9 pm on Wednesday that thugs armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons were causing unrest in Mangororin Sale Toro, through the Shingen Abba area of Bauchi.

He said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, in collaboration with community leaders, responded to the area and arrested three suspects.

The suspects were identified as 18-year-old Manauwir Isa, 17-year-old Ayuba Umar Hassan and 18-year-old Umar Shuaibu, all residents of Mangororin Sale Toro.

The PPRO further disclosed that another report was received at about 12:30 am that thugs were engaged in a fight at Jaja, through the Jahun area of Bauchi.

He said the VCRU patrol teams responded and arrested 20-year-old Yahaya Abdullahi of Gwabba, through Nassarawan Jahun, and 17-year-old Abdulrazak Rabiu of the same address.

According to him, the two suspects were arrested in possession of a sharpened cutlass.

“Consequently, a total of five suspects have been placed under detention in connection with the crimes. The three cases are under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices,” Habib stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.

Aliyu reiterated the command’s commitment to ridding the state of criminal elements and urged residents to provide timely information to the police to assist in preventing crime.

The command assured residents of its continued efforts to protect lives and property across the state.