Police arrest two suspected robbers in Bauchi, recover stolen valuables

Police operatives have arrested two suspected armed robbers and recovered some stolen valuables following a robbery at a compound housing Cozy Resort Hotel in Birshi Gandu, Bauchi State.

The suspects, Abdulshakur Adamu, 20, also known as Dan Oga, of Jahun, and Rabiu Usman, 21, of Sabon Layi, Bauchi, were reportedly arrested after residents tracked one of the stolen phones and apprehended them.

The Bauchi State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesman, SP Nafiu Habib.

According to the statement, four residents, comprising two men and two women, reported at the E Division Police Station on October 17 that three hoodlums armed with knives and machetes had broken into their compound while they were asleep.

The attackers allegedly dispossessed the victims of several valuables worth millions of naira, including Samsung Galaxy S22 and S23 phones, a Redmi Note 14, iPhones, iPads, a Lenovo laptop, a Samsung tablet, power banks and earpods.

Other items stolen included office identity cards and a driving licence.

The statement said operatives of the E Division, Yelwa, worked with community members to track one of the stolen phones, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

It added that the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation and identified one Kabiru, also known as KB, of Birshi Gandu, as their accomplice, who is currently at large.

Police said a search conducted after the arrests led to the recovery of three smartphones, two power banks, a headphone USB cable and a knife. The items were recovered as exhibits and identified by the victims as their property.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The police said the investigation would focus on arresting the fleeing suspect, recovering the remaining stolen items and ensuring the diligent prosecution of those involved.

Aliyu commended the victims and residents for their cooperation, saying the incident demonstrated the importance of community policing.

The command urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to help prevent and tackle crime across the state.