Borno Police Command on Thursday named five crimes committed in Maiduguri metropolis and Biu, the state’s second largest town, during the 2023 Yuletide.
The five crimes, which bordered on theft, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and possession of dangerous weapons and dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and related substances, are among the 49 crimes recorded by the Borno State Police Command in the state between October 1 and December 31, 2023.
The list of the crimes was released in press statement by the Command’s spokesman, ASP Daso Kenneth.
The statement partly read, “On the 31st December 2023, at about 12:30pm, officers of the Joint Anti-vice Unit acting on a Tip- Off, raided a house at Pompomari bypass, Maiduguri and arrested 4 suspects: Zanna Alhaji Goni, owner of the residence; Musa Umar; Bushe Ibrahim; andS Shehu Idris ‘M’ all of the same address.”
The statement said 30 blocks of the dried leaves Suspected to be Indian Hemp, sword, Two pots used for inhaling an intoxicant locally called Shisha, One Stick and Five Handsets were recovered from the them.
The suspects are under investigation for diligent prosecution under sections 60, 67, 392 of Borno State Penal code Law and other matters connected herewith Law 2023.
There was also a case of suspected criminal conspiracy recorded at about 9:48am of the December 28, 2023 when operatives of State Intelligence Bureau, acting on credible information, apprehended one Fatima Abatcha, aka Bintu ‘F,’ of Shehuri South, Maiduguri, who had earlier been declared wanted for serial offences of theft of mobile phones.
The statement explained: “During the course of investigation she revealed her accomplice one Mohammed Abba Isa aka Pastor of about 22 years old from Babban Layi area of the Metropolis,” disclosing, “The modus operandi of the syndicate is visiting residential houses as house help and steal mobile phones of the unsuspected house owner.”
One Techno LC6 Handset was recovered as exhibit; the case is still under investigation to arrest the receivers and will be prosecuted under sections 60, 274 of Borno State Penal code Law and other matters connected herewith Law 2023.
The statement revealed another crime committed at about 7:20am of December 31, 2023 when one Abubakar Modu, 23, a keke Napep driver, reported to GRA Police Station, Maiduguri that on same date at about 6am while he was riding his tricycle looking for passengers, one unknown person boarded the tricycle at circular road junction, that he has some properties at Old GRA Calabar Street to pick up.
On reaching the place, the statement narrated, he saw the properties by the road side: one Elepaq Generator, one Tiger Generator, one Air Condition, and one Fridge compressor, all items were put in the tricycle heading to Bulabulin by Pass area.
“The Keke driver who suspected the items to have been stolen stopped his Tricycle at Nursing Home Hospital Damboa Road, raised alarm to security men at the gate. The suspect took to flight and abandoned the stolen properties. The case is still under investigation to arrest the fleeing suspect,” the statement said.
A case of illegal possession of pistol was also recorded on January 1, 2024 at about 5:45pm in the Biu, the second largest town in the state.
“On receiving a tip-off, Police Crack operatives on FOB Biu in collaboration with of Biu Division, Hunters of Mirnga village, arrested and brought one Shuaibu Alhaji Saleh, 27, of Berum village Biu LGA in possession of the locally made pistol, the suspect confessed to have acquired locally made pistol from one Abubakar, of Kalimbo village, Babbangida LGA of Yobe State; efforts are on-going to arrest the said Abubakar,” the statement explained.
Eight members of the most notorious group of violent miscreants in Maiduguri, known as Marlians, were arrested.
“During the Christmas/New-Year festive season, the command raided suspected criminal hideouts in Mairi, Forie, Tashan Bama and Gwange where 8 suspects were arrested: Abdullahi Alhassan, Gambo Alkhasan, Abdullahi Sule, Samaila Sule, Danlami Ali, Muhammed Yusuf, Baba Teri and Muhammed Shattima in possession of dangerous weapons and hard drugs.
The statement listed the drugs as Tramadol Capsul, DS Tablet, Exzol Tablet, Intoxicating herbal gum, and dried leaves suspected to be Indian-hemp and a knife.
The statement said the case is under investigation and suspects will be prosecuted under section 60, 61, 68, Borno State Penal code Law and other matters connected herewith Law 2023.
