From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
In renewed efforts to rid Kano off criminals and criminal activities, specials squads despatched by the state Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, have made harvest of arrests, as they combed across black spots in the state, nabbing Kidnappers, cattle rustlers, armed robbers, phone snatchers, hoodlums, among other enemies of the state, who have been making life unbearable for residents in the state.
The operation carried out within a space of two weeks recorded the recovery of five riffles, including one AK-49, two AK-47 and two pistols, as well as other dangerous w.eapons. Nine motor vehicles, two tricycles, bags and cartons of assorted illicit drugs, counterfeit notes, and mobile phones, were also recovered.
The AUTHORITY reports that on April 7, 2021, a team of Operation Puff- Adder attached to Tarauni Area Command while on intelligence-led patrol at Unguwa Uku motor park, arrested one Abdulnasir Sabi’u, aged 18 and Saifullahi Umar (18), all of Kurna Quarters Kano. The Kano police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa who paraded the suspects on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, told journalists that the suspected criminals, conspired, deceived people, collected money with the intention to sell mobile phones to them, but ended up delivering fake Robber mobile phones to their hapless customers. He added that investigation was in progress. He further stated that on March 20, 2021, a group of armed robbers, armed themselves with dangerous weapons, invaded the house of one Alwan Hassan Shariff of Gunduwawa area, Hadejia Road Kano, broke the iron burglary and got entrance into the house, shot him on his shoulder with gun, and carted away with his Honda Accord ash in colour valued at N1.5 million. He said the suspected criminals also left with one motorcycle Lifan valued at N330,000.00, two Android Phones, N50,000.00 cash and ATM cards.
The Police image-maker stated that, “on receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police Kano state Command CP. Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi raised and instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder to arrest the hoodlums. The team immediately rushed to the scene, swung in to action, the victim was rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for Emergency treatment, on investigation one Musa Abubakar aged 23 was arrested and confessed to the commission of the crime, the suspect is in the wanted list of the Command for a series of armed robbery. The commissioner of Police Kano State Command CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi has ordered for discrete investigation. Suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”
According to him, “on 13 January, 2021 a complaint was received from a personnel of Wanxiang Mosquitor Company located at Zenawa village of Gezawa LGA Kano, that on the same date, a group of hoodlums armed with offensive weapons such as guns, cutlasses and sticks, stormed into the Company premises and attacked those on night duty, robbed them of their belongings as follows: N13.5 million, four mobile phones valued at US$2,000, two Huawei Honour phones valued at US$400, two wrist watches valued at N10,000.00, one Laptop Computer valued at N300,000.00. On receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police Kano state Command CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi raised and instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Salisu Muhammad to arrest the hoodlums. The team immediately swung into action, and arrested the following suspects: Musa Ibrahim Ringim (48) of Ringim LGA Jigawa State, Abdulwahab Ubale, Alias Weezy (20) of Zenawa village, Gezawa LGA Kano, and Sama’ila Bello (24) of Gunduwawa village Gezawa LGA Kano. The Suspects Confessed to the commission of the crime.”
He listed the items that were recovered from them to include two Motor vehicles (Golf Wagon Green in colour and Honda Accord Golden in colour) and Huawei Phone, adding that the gang leader, Musa Abubakar (23) of Kwanar Danja village, Gezawa LGA Kano, previously at large, was arrested in another armed robbery in Gezawa LGA Kano. The police spokesman also hinted that on April 3, 2021, based on credible information, a team of Operation Puff Adder arrested one Salim Salisu, (21) of Layin DPO, Hotoro Quarters, Kano in possession of one piece of one hundred note of US Dollars, while attempting to change same from unsuspecting local forex trader. Investigation led to further arrest of one Sadik Ibrahim, (20) of Tudun Yola Kabuga Quarters, Kano, Faruk Auwal Dala Gwammaja, Mustapha Saminu of Kabuga Quarters and Tijjani Lawan, of Hotoro Layin DPO from whose additional 130 pieces of one hundred note of counterfeited United State of America Currency (Dollars) were recovered, adding that, “investigation is in progress, the Commissioner of Police, Kano state Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko fsi, ordered for discrete investigation and arrest of his accomplices. Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”
Moreso, on April 1, 2021, a team of Operation Puff Adder arrested one Sa’idu Abubakar, alias Dan Sa’idu, of Gaida Quarters Kano. During investigation, he confessed to a series of armed robberies and car snatching in Kano State. The suspect further revealed that the recent operations they did with four others in the house of one Nasiru Bello of Maidile Quarters via Kumbotso LGA Kano, where they robbed him of his motor vehicle Maroon Ford Jeep. He further led operatives to his house at Sabon-titi Sharada Quarters and recovered from his wife, a Baretta pistol with breached live ammunition, three sharp knives, four small knives, scissors, eight wrist watches, charms, concoctions, motor vehicle Bluetooth and one house key. The suspect also led detectives to Zaria Road Kano and arrested one Isiyaku Maude alias Sakwai of Gwandu and recovered from him Baretta pistol with live ammunition, three other accomplices including the wife of Sa’idu that hide the pistol in her bag were arrested. The Ford Motor Vehicle was recovered from Zamfara State.
On March 31, 2021, based on credible information, a team of operation “Puff Adder” led by O/C Anti-Daba SP Bashir Musa Gwadabe, stormed a house at No. 7 Danbatta Road, behind Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, and arrested one Nonso Okonkwo (52) of Sani Giwa Street, Sabon Gari Kano. On spot search, the following items were recovered: One drum containing engine oil suspected to be adulterated and substandard, 36 gallons of refilled one litres AZ oil, 24 gallons of four litres of refilled Corn oil, 48 gallons of four refilled forte oil, 156 gallons of refilled of one litre mobile oil, one litre of refilled total oil, 12 gallons of four litres and 24 gallons of one litre refilled Oando Oil, 46 gallons of four litre of refilled of normal total oil, one litre of refilled normal total oil, 26 empty cartons package of total oil, 100 empty cartons of Indomie Noodles, 15 bags of cornstarch, 5,000 pieces of stickers, 20 cups of baking powder, four bags of empty cups of coco butter cream, two generators, 2,172 empty sachet of peak milk, among other incriminating items. Police investigations indicated that the suspect specialized in counterfeiting trade mark of different oil companies and adulteration of food.
The police spokesman said that on March 30, 2021, a patrol team attached to Tsanyawa Division, while on routine Patrol, arrested one Salisu Bala (65) of Shanono LGA Kano State, with an unregistered Jincheng Motorcycle blue in colour, valued at N45,000.00 and a ram valued, at N25,000.00. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have stolen the items at Dumbulum village, Tsanyawa LGA, Kano State. One Abdul’azeez Bello of same address claimed ownership of the recovered items.
According to him, on March 30, 2021, in continuation of the case reported at Rano Division on the March 26, 2021, along with one Abdullahi Abba of Sharada Quarters, Kano and seven others at large, that the suspect confessed to have conspired with others at large, using one black golf wagon car, as their operational vehicle, and stormed Abu Daso Quarry company Rano and attacked one Haruna Abdullahi who is among the security guards of the company, tied him with rope, cut and stole Amour Cable of the company. During on the spot search at the scene, police recovered three roles of Amour Cable, hack saw, one flier, one cutlass and three sticks.
He further stated that on March 28, 2021, the said suspect led detectives to Rano, where one Aminu Mohammed (30) of Dotsa village Kumbotso LGA, Kano, Abubakar Usman (22) of Na’ibawa quarters Kumbotso LGA, Kano and Yakubu Tasiu (20) of Kwanar Dawaki village D/Kudu LGA, Kano, were arrested in connection with the case. During on the spot interrogation, all the suspects confessed to the crime.
He also stated that on March 15, 2021, a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Muddasir Ibrahim, DPO Kumbotso Division while on intelligence – led patrol along Gaida Fatima Bread road, recovered an abandoned Motor Vehicle Peugeot, ash in colour, “effort is intensified to trace the owner. Investigation is in progress.”
According to him, “on March 18, 2021, a team of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Alabi Lateef, while on intelligence-led patrol at Rijiyar Gongon along Wudil road Kano, intercepted one Green Motor Vehicle Sharon, driven by one Nazir Gambo of Hauramo Village, conveying one Muhammad Buhari of Hambarawa village, all of Ringim LGA, Jigawa State, and a Cow. During investigation, the suspects confessed to have stolem the Cow from Garko LGA Kano, and further led Police team to where the Cow was stolen. The owner of the Cow was traced.
On March 21, 2021, a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru while on intelligence-led patrol arrested one Tukur Sule of Sabuwar Kaura Village, Doguwa LGA Kano, in possession of 99 pieces of fake 100 Dollar notes, criminal charm, and two Handsets. On investigation, the Suspect confessed of being a member of 419 syndicate. Investigation is in progress. Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Moreso, on March 19, 2021, a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru while on intelligence-led patrol arrested one Alhwji Salisu M. Yahaya (50) of Gusau LGA, Zamfara State. Two units of Honda Ace 125 (popularly called Boko Haram) Motorcycle were recovered from him. On investigation, the suspect confessed that he used to buy the motorcycles and concealed them in Bajaj Motorcycles package to divert attention and deliver to armed bandits in Zamfara State. Investigation revealed that, so far, the suspect has delivered more than 60 motorcycles to armed bandits in Zamfara State. The suspect has been charged to court for prosecution.
He further stated that on March 22, 2021, a report was received that unknown hoodlums attacked a tricycle rider, Abddullahi Abubakar (17) of Dawakin Kudu LGA, at Tashar Maza along Madobi-Kano road. On receipt of the report, team of Operation Puff Adder immediately rushed to the scene, swung into action, engaged the hoodlums and arrested one Sanusi Ado (55) of Makafin Dala, Dala LGA Kano, who snatched a tricycle from the driver after drugging him, while the victim was rushed to Hospital for treatment.
Also, on March 23, 2021, one Bashir Aliyu and Batta Sulaiman, all of Kurna Quarters, reported at Kwakwachi Division that on the same date, they boarded a Bajaj Tricycle riden by one Aminu Yakubu of Mile Tara Quarters, from Ibrahim Taiwo road to Kurna Asabe Quarters, on reaching to Katsina road, opposite Federal Secretariat, the Tricycle rider stopped to pick another person, who allegedly attacked the two passengers with a sharp long Knife and extorted the victims their valuables, including TECHNO SPARK 6 Android phone valued at N38,000.00, GIONEE X15 Android phone valued at N14,000.00, Identity Card, and Union Bank ATM Card. The suspects left without attacking or collecting anything from the said Tricycle rider in which the victims strongly suspected the Tricycle rider for criminally conspiring with the suspect, who is now at large to rob them of their valuables. Investigation is in progress. The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko fsi, ordered that case be transferred to the Commands Criminal Investigation Department for Discrete investigation and arrest of his accomplices. Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
DSP Abdullahi stated that intelligence-led raids conducted between March 12, 2021 to April 9, 2021, led to the arrest of 143 Thugs (‘Yan Daba) and recovery of dangerous weapons, illicit drugs and Mobile Phones. Suspects were charged to court for prosecution, adding that following the arrest of one Abubakar Musa, popularly known along Birnin Gwari and Falgore Forest axis as Dakta, of Burum Burum Village, Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State, another notorious kidnapper cum armed robber, was also arrested in possession of an AK-49 rifle with 59 live Ammunition. The said Abubakar Musa was arrested while trying to establish kidnapping base in Falgore Forest Kano.
He, however, appealed to Kano residents to remain security conscious and report suspicious movements to the police and other relevant security agencies, just as he reassured the commitment of CP Dikko to ensure that Kano remains peaceful and crime-free.
