The Niger State Police Command has nabbed at least nine suspects allegedly specialized in attacking and robbing trucks along the highways in Tafa local government area of the state.
It was gathered the suspects specialized in targeting and monitoring faulty loaded trucks especially along Abuja-Kaduna, Keffi-Jos road, Nasarawa-Akwanga, and Minna-Suleja roads.
Confirming the development, the state police command, through the Public Relations Officer, PRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun in Minna, said their arrest was made possible through intelligence by police in the area for conspiracy and belonging to a robbery gang.
He explained that the suspects were arrested on 20 July, 2023 in a Volkswagen Sharon vehicle with Reg. No. LKJ 739 BJ along Kaduna-Abuja highway at Sabon-Wuse Tafa LG.
According to him, “the vehicle’s body was found to have been riddled with some bullet impacts and occupied by nine men suspected to be criminal-minded persons.”
He explained that so far, preliminary investigation has shown that the syndicate was discovered to have been engaging in attacking and breaking trucks/containers and looting items/property contained therein along major roads.
He further revealed that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and claimed that they have a warehouse at Akwanga where they keep the loot, while they sell the items in Kano State.
“They later attempted to bribe the DPO to terminate the case with an offer of five hundred thousand naira,” he said.
All suspects were arrested and transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation.
They include Mohammed Sani, Hakimi Abdullahi, Aminu Bello, Buhari Abdullahi, Tasiu Abdullahi, Bello Auwal, Kabiru Abubakar, Abdullahi Dabo and Babangida Ibrahim.
