Jigawa: Police arrest nine over motorcycle theft, nine killings

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspected members of a motorcycle theft syndicate accused of stealing 33 motorcycles and allegedly killing nine people across Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna states.

The suspects were arrested after police and local vigilantes recovered a motorcycle allegedly stolen from an Okada rider in Aujara District of Jahun Local Government Area, the command said.

Jigawa Police spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Dutse on Thursday.

According to Adam, the initial arrest during the response to the motorcycle theft led investigators to other alleged members of the syndicate operating across the three states.

He said investigators subsequently recovered information linking the suspects to at least 33 motorcycle thefts involving members of the public.

The police spokesman also said the suspects allegedly admitted involvement in several violent attacks in which victims were injured.

More seriously, Adam said the suspects reportedly confessed to killing nine people during their alleged criminal operations.

The suspects were identified as Ado Saleh, 55, also known as Datti, of Kawari Village, Ajingi Local Government Area, Kano State; Abdullahi Saidu, 37, of Kwanar Dangora Village, Kano State; and Magaji Danladi of Auramo Quarters, Ringim Local Government Area.

Others are Sabiu Miko of Kaugama; Habibu Dan Iya of Didi Village, Gagarawa; Shamsu Sani, 32, of Ajingi, Kano State; Ali Salisu, 40, of Yanbaru settlement, Sule Tankarkar; Alhassan Isa, also known as Tata, of Shuwarin, Kiyawa; and Ado Ali of Baranda Village, Dutse.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, commended the officers involved in the operation as well as a member of the public whose intervention helped recover the stolen motorcycle and led to the wider investigation.

Murtala directed the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse to continue investigating the case and work to identify other suspected members of the syndicate.

The police command was also directed to trace and recover more stolen motorcycles and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and deaths.

Adam said the command would prosecute any suspect found culpable in accordance with the law.