Suspect Arrested for Vehicle Theft in Niger; Police Recover Cannabis
A 32-year-old man was arrested in Niger for stealing a vehicle, linked to a larger syndicate involved in multiple thefts. Meanwhile, police also seized bags of suspected cannabis and arrested twelve suspects in related operations.
A 32-year-old man has been apprehended by the Niger State Police Command after officers recovered a stolen Toyota Rav4 in the Maje area of Minna. This news was relayed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Tuesday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Sunday around 10:30 a.m. when the vehicle’s owner, who resides in the Brighter area of Minna, parked the Toyota Rav4, with registration number CE 225 RBC, along Shiroro Road to make photocopies. Upon his return, he was dismayed to find the vehicle missing.
The theft was promptly reported to the Tudun-Wada Division. Following the report, the police quickly circulated this information to all other divisions for immediate action. By noon, officers stationed at a stop-and-search point in Maje managed to intercept the stolen vehicle, leading to the arrest of a suspect from Kofar-Dibi, Katsina State.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly confessed to being part of a syndicate operating out of Abuja. He claimed he was hired to steal the vehicle and deliver it to Dikko Junction. The suspect’s admissions extended to prior thefts, stating that he had stolen vehicles from locations such as Zaria, Kaduna, and Minna to be dropped off at various points across northern Nigeria.
In a separate police operation, Abiodun disclosed that five bags of suspected cannabis were seized, and twelve individuals were arrested during a crackdown on known criminal hotspots in Minna. This series of raids occurred early Sunday and Monday, executed by the Central Police Division with support from local vigilantes.
The raids were specifically aimed at notorious criminal hideouts in areas like Paida, Sabon-Gari, Gwari Market, and Abdulsalam Quarters. Of particular note, five bags of the suspected cannabis were confiscated from a residence in Abdulsalam Quarters, where an 18-year-old suspect claimed the bags belonged to an individual who remains at large. Additionally, three other suspects were taken into custody from different neighborhoods including Barkin-Sale, Kasuwan-Gwari, and Market areas.
All detained suspects are currently being investigated, with plans to bring charges against them in court once all inquiries have concluded.
In summary, a 32-year-old suspect was arrested for stealing a Toyota Rav4 in Niger, with links to a larger syndicate involved in vehicle theft across multiple regions. In a different operation, the police also confiscated suspected cannabis and rounded up several people connected to criminal activities. More investigations are underway, and charges are expected to follow shortly.
Original Source: punchng.com
