By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The Bauchi State Police Command has announced the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind a series of armed robberies that sparked student unrest at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi in August.
In a press release issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said detectives apprehended one Adamu Muhammad Lawan, 18, popularly known as Daddy, a resident of Birshin Fulani.
According to Wakil,
“The suspect confessed to being the mastermind of an armed robbery operation involving about 20 participants from Birshin Fulani, Birshi Gandu, Lushi, and other parts of Bauchi metropolis. They stormed student accommodations at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, robbing students of valuables such as mobile phones, laptops, and power banks. He personally benefitted from the proceeds of three mobile phones which he sold for ₦40,000 through an associate.”
Earlier, police had arrested seven other suspects linked to the incident. They include:
Mansur Yakubu, 20, aka Chasu, of Lushi
Abbas Auwal, 20, aka Abe
Musa Bala, 20, aka Baban Nani, of Lushi
Aliyu Ahmadu, 21, aka Yellow, of Lushi
Zurkarlaini Aliyu, 20, aka Baki, of Birshin Fulani
Muftahu Ibrahim, 20, aka Dodo, of Lushi
Hamza Bala, 29, aka R-Kelly, of Lushi
Wakil explained that the gang had been terrorising Yelwa, Birshi Gandu, Birshin Fulani, and Gwallameji with dangerous weapons and flashlights, breaking into homes to steal valuables while inflicting injuries on victims who resisted. Some members reportedly fled to neighbouring states to evade arrest.
In a separate development, police operatives foiled a mob attack on a suspected motorcycle thief at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, on September 9.
“Detectives from B Division GRA rescued one Salisu Musa, 25, of Mararraban Liman Katagum, who was caught with a stolen Jincheng motorcycle belonging to a student of the polytechnic. The suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation,” Wakil disclosed.
”The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and subsequent prosecution”, the release added.
CSP Wakil assured the public that the police remain committed to protecting lives and property, warning criminal elements that the command will sustain its crackdown on crime across the state.
