The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, Bello Mohammed, who is allegedly involved in the theft of motorcycles in the state. Mohammed, also known as Faruk Manja, resides in the Bakaro Area of Bauchi metropolis and is believed to have been involved in motorcycle theft for over four years.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, the suspect confessed during interrogation that he and his partner, Kabiru Danfulani (who is currently at large), had stolen more than 20 motorcycles during their criminal activities. The two-man gang has reportedly been terrorizing areas in Yobe and Bauchi states.
The suspects are accused of breaking into a residence on Old Airport Road, GRA, and stealing a Honda Civic worth N640,000, as well as a skeletal motorcycle. The victim promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects as they attempted to flee with the stolen vehicle.
This arrest demonstrates the efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling criminal activities such as motorcycle theft, which has been a concern in some regions of Nigeria.
“The Command has arrested a two-man squad that specializes in snatching motorcycles and has been carrying out their nefarious activities for about four years within Bauchi and other neighboring States.
“On August 24, 2023, at about 6.30 am, one Aliyu Muhammad Gidado, male, of old Airport Road GRA, Bauchi, reported at B’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi metropolis, that on the same date at about 4 am, he discovered that Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja, male (30) of Bakaro area of Bauchi and Kabiru Danfulani, a male of Muda Lawal Bauchi, now at large, criminally conspired among themselves and trespassed into his house and stole his motor-vehicle Honda Civic, golden color with reg no. MSA-350-PD valued at N640,000;00, alongside a skeletal motorcycle green colour, with the value yet to be ascertained.
“On receipt of the report, a team of detectives led by the DPO B’ Division, CSP Holman Simon, swiftly swung into action and circulated the incident to various Police patrol teams/divisions within and outside the State.
“Subsequently, in their process to escape with the stolen vehicle along Maiduguri-Bauchi road, Police operatives drafted to Soro Division led by the DPO, Soro Division, SP Aliyu Goni, intercepted the motor vehicle and arrested one of the culprits.
“During interrogation, the first suspect voluntarily confessed to having been a motorcycle snatcher for about four years and approximately stole 20 Jincheng robber motorcycles and carried such menace in different areas of Bauchi and Yobe States respectively, while the second suspect is now at large,” he said.
He said that the stolen vehicle and the skeletal motorcycle have been recovered from the suspects while an investigation is in progress and efforts are being intensified to arrest the remaining fleeing accomplices, after which the suspects would be charged to court.