Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, Bartholomew Onyeka, addressing Journalists on Friday 9th September.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Some suspected armed robbers, cultists and others who allegedly committed other crimes have been arrested by the Plateau State Police Command.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka who paraded the suspects on Friday in Jos said their arrest had led to the recovery of arms, ammunition and other implements that aided in their unlawful trade.
Speaking with journalists shortly before parading the suspects, the CP said “Within the period under review, the Plateau State Police Command had recorded some operational driven successes in the arrest of criminal elements that are bent on making the job of policing on the Plateau difficult and ensuring that some law-abiding residents of the state experience pain and anguish. Their arrest led to the recovery of arms, ammunition and other unlawful implements that aid them in their unlawful trade.
“On 13/06/2022 at about 1430hrs, ‘A’ Division Police detectives alongside operatives of Operation Rainbow through credible intelligence, nabbed one Yakubu Samuel alias Retired aged 18 years of Angwan Rimi, Rukuba Road Jos, who has been terrorizing his Community with his gang member now at large. When interrogated, the suspect confessed that he has been robbing unsuspecting members of the public with a locally made pistol. The exhibit recovered from the suspect includes one locally made pistol. The case is under Investigation.
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“On 8th August 2022 at about 0935hrs, one Aji Sani ‘m’ reported at the station that, his sister, Habiba Suleiman ‘f’ called and informed him that, one Lukman Suleiman ‘m’ fought with her son, Nazifi Ridwan (deceased) all of the same address and hit her son severally with a piece of wooden plank on his head. That the son was rushed to the hospital where he later died.
“That the remote cause of the fight was as a result of accusation by the suspect that, his children stole some money he kept in the room and he was punishing them when a fight ensued between them which led to the death of the deceased. The suspect was trailed and arrested. He confessed to the crime and the wooden plank was also recovered. The case will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.”
On another case of culpable homicide, he added, “On 18th July 2022 at about 2100hrs, one Mohammed Sa’ad Putkun ‘m’ of Kururuwa area, Pankshin reported at the station that, on the same date at about 2000hrs, his cousin, one Benedict Lawrence ‘m’ aged 30 years of Kangvel Pankshin had a misunderstanding over money with one Nanyitwe Emmanuel ‘m’ of new Layout, Pankshin.
“That said Nenyitwe Emmanuel stabbed Benedict with a knife on his chest and buttocks where he sustained serious injuries. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Pankshin for medical attention where he later died while receiving treatment. The suspect was arrested and interviewed where he confessed to committing the crime and one knife was also recovered.”
Other suspects were also arrested for criminal conspiracy and theft as he noted that, ‘On the 08/07/2022 at about 1700hrs information gathered by ‘C’ Division lead to the arrest of one Kamalu Usman of Dodo Street Jos in possession of one Bajaj Tricycle with Chassis No. MD2A25BX6MWL72106 and Engine No. A2XWM148967. On interrogation, Kamalu stated that he was on an errand for one Babangida Yusuf aka July of Zololo Junction, Jos who gave him the tricycle.
“The said Babagida Yusuf was later traced and arrested. He consequently confessed that he was given the said Bajaj Tricycle by one Musa SP who is now at large. He was later released to enable him to produce Musa SP. On 29/08/2022 at about 1550hours, the same suspect Babangida Yusuf aka Jully was arrested in connection with a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Shop Breaking and Theft where he confessed to the crime and further revealed that the first allegation of theft of Bajaj Tricycle is true, that he and one Zaidu Abubakar who is also at Large ‘M’ of Congo Russia via Nasarawa Gwong Jos, Stole the said Bajaj Tricycle in Zaria Kaduna State. In furtherance of the investigation, the owner of the said tricycle Capt. Adam Usman was contacted. The investigation is still in progress.”
On cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, CP Onyeka stated, “On I4/09/2022 at about 0929hrs while acting on credible information from an impeccable source, police operatives attached to ‘A’ division of the Command arrested two suspected Arro cultists namely; Matthew Ayuba, aged 19 years old ‘m’ of Alheri community, Jos and one Samuel Ngbede ‘m’, aged 25 years old of Jenta Makeri, Jos. The duo that is on the wanted list of the Police were arrested at Kabong, Gada-Biu in an attempt to launch an attack on the community. Exhibits recovered from the suspects upon instant search include one locally made pistol. The police have already launched an aggressive manhunt for another member of the gang still at large.
“On 04/09/2022 at about 1615hrs, intrepid surveillance team from ‘A’ division, through reliable intelligence arrested one Ezekiel Sunday ‘m’ of Bassa LGA, Jos with an English made Berretta Pistol loaded with three (3) live ammunition of 99mm calibre. Upon interrogation, the suspect disclosed that one Jonathan (Surname unknown), a retired Air force officer gave him the pistol to repair and that he got the live ammunition during a fight with bandits at the Miango axis of Bassa LGA. The investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the veracity of the suspect’s claims.”
The CP appealed to citizens to give timely information to the Police so that crime could be nipped in the bud.
