CRIME 2 dismissed soldiers arrested for robbery

The police Kano State have arrested two dismissed army personnel, Abubakar Ibrahim and Jaduwa Thalma, over alleged armed robbery.

Parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Kano State Police Command, the police spokesman, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said they were arrested in Katsina State during a joint operation by operatives of SARS from Kano and Katsina state commands. in

Majia said the suspects were on their way to Niger Republic to deliver a stolen Hilux van.

He said the suspects were dismissed from the Nigerian Army after they absconded from service when posted to Baga in Borno State to partake in ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.

He explained that Ibrahim, popularly known as Abu Soja, and Thalma were arrested in full camouflage army uniform and that they were alleged to have attacked the owner of the vehicle in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and snatched the car.

He said, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to be dismissed from the Nigerian Army after they have deserted from service when posted to Baga in Borno State on ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.

“The principal suspect, Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Abu Soja is a notorious armed robber who was declared wanted by the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) and SARS Rivers State Command. Abu Soja also has pending robbery case at SCIID Bompai, Kano,” the PPRO said.

One of the suspects, Thalma confirmed they were dismissed from the Nigerian Army for their inability to fight Boko Haram insurgents in Baga, Borno State.

He said, “We were dislodged by Boko Haram fighters after we ran out of ammunitions and as a result we were dismissed from the Nigerian Army on the ground that we were incapable to fight the insurgents.

“But to be honest with you, I am not an armed robber because I never robbed anybody in my life. Of course, I was arrested with stolen vehicle but I did not rob anybody. I was asked by a friend in Port Harcourt to take the van to one Alhaji in Niger Republic. He gave us the man’s phone number to communicate with him.

“We have been communicating with someone who pretends to be the man to receive the vehicle, not knowing that we were communicating with the police. So, when we arrived at Nigeria/Niger Republic border in Katsina State, we were arrested by the police,” the suspect said.