4 arrested over motorcycle, car thefts in Katsina

Katsina State Police Command has arrested four persons who allegedly specialised in attacking motorcyclists and dispossessing them of their machines and other valuables.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Gambo Isah, in a statement said two persons - Kabiru Salisu alias Basau, 25, Gobarau, and Usman Ashiru, 21, of Alkalawa, Daura, were arrested for being in possession of two motorcycles.

Isah said during police investigation the suspects confessed to have snatched the motorcycles from Maradi in Niger Republic with others presently at large.

He added that the command also arrested one Rahim Adebayo as he was trying to escape with a stolen Toyota Corolla, which he stole from Gwarinpa in Abuja.

He said, on September 16 the command also arrested one Mubarak Umar, 24, of Kukar Gesa, Katsina and Abubakar now at large and attacked a motorcyclist with a hammer and snatched his machine.

“The suspect disguised himself as a passenger and took the rider to their hideout where the other suspect Abubakar came out and hit him with iron hammer.

“The said Mubarak then took the motorcycle but as God will have it, luck ran out of him, he had an accident with it while trying to escape and fell into a nearby ditch. He sustained serious head injury.

“Both the complainant and suspect were rushed to General hospital Katsina. They were treated and discharged. The iron hammer was recovered from his possession during police search. Suspect confessed to the crime and has been charged to Chief Magistrate court four Katsina for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Armed Robbery’ he said.