Gombe out-of-school children: Police parade minors for arson, theft
By Samson Dairus
The Nigerian Police Force, Gombe State Command, on Monday brought to light a disturbing incident involving minors, underscoring the need for taking a bulk of out-of-school children from the streets.
At a press briefing held by the Police Commissioner CP Oqua Etim, the police paraded four suspects who conspired and broke into 15 tailoring shops, stole different products, ranging from sewing machines, designing machines and clothing materials worth several thousands of naira, after which they burnt down 10 out of the 15 shops they looted.
Upon receipt of complaints, men of the Police Force swung into action, and apprehended four suspects in connection to the crime.
The four suspects apprehended in connection with the case have been identified as Rabiu Muhammed (18) of Wuro Biriji, Laminu Yayaji (18), Shehu Yunusa (16), and Abdullahi Musa (16) of Mallam Inna Qtrs.
During the course of the investigation two butterfly sewing machines and 17 wrappers were recovered. The suspects are already cooperating with investigators to identify criminal receivers who are currently at large.
In another incident, one Rabiu Ali of Dogon Ruwa village, in Kaltungo LGA, reported to the police that criminals had broken into his shops and stole about 60 android phones and over 70 keypad phones, recharge cards, and cash sum reaching up to 130,000. All the goods stolen were valued at 3,620,000 naira.
All suspects in connection to the crime have been apprehended and currently behind bars. The suspects are Suleiman Lawali (21) of Dogon Ruwa. Upon execution of a search warrant, 17 android phones, 75 keypad phones, 20 Tecno batteries, including several MTN, AIRTEL and GLO recharge cards and a cash sum of 65,000 naira, 28 sim cards, 29 memory cards, 1 plasma TV, among other items were recovered.
CP Etim, decried the prevalence of street children and the harm it caused to society. He said “we all can now see the menace the street children are causing us in the state. I want all and sundry to join us to call on parents to take care of their children.”
Recall that PERISCOPE NIGERIA had earlier reported that the Gombe State Government has failed to deliver on it’s promise of taking 100,000 out-of-school children from the streets, following facilitators abscondment from learning centres due to non payment of allowances.
