(Two suspects. Photo by Daily Post)
The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the m*rd3r of a Suleja resident, Alhaji Monsa, and apprehended seven others for alleged @rmed r0bbery, receiving stolen property, and aiding members of a criminal syndicate operating in Suleja and surrounding areas.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the breakthrough came following a distress call received on June 10 after a victim was robbed of a Jincheng motorcycle in the Rafin-Chinaka area of Maje.
Police operatives tracked the fleeing suspects towards the Zuba direction and arrested one Bitrus James with the stolen motorcycle.
Investigations subsequently led to the arrest of Aminu Ibrahim, Gali Ibrahim Abubakar, Ibrahim Idris, Samaila Nasiru, Mohammed Sani, Dorcas Thomas, Rejoice Samaila and Musa Lawal.
Initial investigations revealed that Bitrus James, Aminu Ibrahim, Gali Ibrahim Abubakar, Ibrahim Idris and two other suspects still at large were members of an @rmed r0bbery gang terrorising Suleja, Kwamba and nearby communities.
Abiodun said Bitrus James and Aminu Ibrahim confessed to involvement in the k!lling of Alhaji Monsa on May 31 behind Niger Motel in Suleja, where the victim was allegedly st@bb3d to d£ath with a jackknife before his motorcycle and bag were taken.
He said Musa Lawal, identified as a major receiver of stolen motorcycles, confessed to receiving numerous motorcycles from gang members and forwarding them through Mohammed Sani to buyers in Katsina, Kaduna and other locations.
Lawal was also accused of attempting to bribe the Divisional Police Officer handling the case.
The police spokesman further disclosed that Samaila Nasiru managed a boutique in Jabi where firearms and other dangerous weapons belonging to the gang were stored, while Rejoice Samaila allegedly harboured Bitrus James.
Dorcas Thomas reportedly provided her personal details to help open an account used for proceeds of cr!me.
Items recovered from the suspects include two locally made revolver guns, an axe, a jackknife, one live cartridge, eight empty cartridges, a laptop, the deceased victim’s bag, motorcycle parts, mobile phones and ATM cards.
Abiodun said all suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.