By Milcah Tanimu
The police in Kano have apprehended three individuals involved in a string of phone thefts, with a total of 671 mobile phones stolen from unsuspecting citizens. In addition to the arrests, the police successfully recovered 318 of the stolen mobile phones, while the suspects confessed to having sold the remaining devices.
The individuals involved in these phone thefts have been identified as Yusuf Surajo, Mustafa Auwal, and Sani Garba, all of whom have been taken into police custody.
According to the Kano State Police Command spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the incident was reported on September 29, 2023. A group of ten people, including one Muhammad Adam, who had shops in the Alkhairat GSM Market opposite Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, reported that during the midnight hours of the same date, their shops were burglarized, resulting in the theft of 671 mobile phones.
A team of detectives, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kofar Wambai Division in Kano, CSP Bala Mohammed, worked diligently to make the arrests. The investigation revealed that Yusuf Surajo, aged 19 and residing in Yakasai Quarters, Kano, was involved in the theft. Further inquiries led to the apprehension of the principal suspect, Mustafa Auwalu, also of Yakasai Quarters. Mustafa confessed to conspiring with Yusuf in stealing the mobile phones, selling some of them, and leaving the rest with Sani Garba, who also resides in the same area.
The police successfully recovered 318 mobile phones from the three suspects. All the suspects will face legal action once the police investigation is completed.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Usuani Gumel, expressed gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and cooperation. He reiterated the police’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state and emphasized that the police would continue efforts to combat criminal activities and bring the perpetrators to justice.
CP Gumel encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities, individuals, or items to the nearest police station or through the Kano State Police Command’s emergency contact numbers, which are provided for the convenience of the public’s safety.