Suspect Arrested in Niger for Vehicle Theft as Police Continue Crackdown on Crime

A 32-year-old man was arrested for stealing a Toyota Rav4 in Niger State. The vehicle was reported stolen while its owner was making photocopies. Police quickly recovered it at a checkpoint in the Maje area. Separately, five bags of suspected cannabis were confiscated, leading to the arrest of twelve suspects during raids in Minna.

Authorities in Niger State have taken a significant step in combating vehicle theft with the arrest of a 32-year-old man following the recovery of a stolen Toyota Rav4. The theft was reported in the Maje area of Minna, according to a statement from the state’s Police Command on Tuesday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The owner of the vehicle, who lives in the Brighter area of Minna, had parked his Toyota Rav4 (with registration number CE 225 RBC) along Shiroro Road on Sunday morning around 10:30 a.m. in order to make photocopies. Upon his return, he was shocked to find the vehicle missing. He promptly reported the incident to the Tudun-Wada Division, which triggered a swift police response, disseminating the information across all divisions.

Officers stationed at a stop-and-search point in Maje successfully intercepted the vehicle around noon and arrested the 32-year-old suspect, hailing from Kofar-Dibi in Katsina State. It was revealed during questioning that the suspect had been hired by a criminal syndicate based in Abuja to steal the vehicle and deliver it to Dikko Junction. He further incriminated himself, admitting to previous thefts in Zaria, Kaduna, and Minna for similar purposes.

In unrelated news, Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun reported additional action by the command, which recovered five bags of suspected cannabis and apprehended twelve suspects in a series of raids. These operations were carried out in the early hours of Sunday and Monday by the Central Police Division officers, in cooperation with local vigilantes, targeting known criminal hotspots in Minna.

The raids, which included areas such as Paida, Sabon-Gari, Gwari Market, and Abdulsalam Quarters, were successful in recovering the illicit drugs from a residence in Abdulsalam Quarters. An 18-year-old suspect at that location claimed that the bags belonged to an individual who remains at large. In total, police also arrested three additional suspects from the Barkin-Sale, Kasuwan-Gwari, and Market areas. All individuals taken into custody are currently under investigation and will face court charges once inquiries are complete.

In summary, the Police Command in Niger State continues to tackle crime effectively, as illustrated by the recent arrest of a vehicle theft suspect and the recovery of suspected drugs. The coordinated efforts of police forces and local vigilantes reflect a commitment to ensuring safety and security in Minna. Continued investigations into these incidents aim to address broader criminal activities within the region and hold those responsible accountable.

Original Source: punchng.com