Kano man nabbed over theft of 222 phones, other items

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori

The police in Kano State have arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly breaking into four shops at the City Centre Plaza, Farm Centre GSM Market, and recovered 222 mobile phones and other stolen items.

The suspect, identified as Abba Abubakar, was reportedly found loitering inside the plaza with an iron saw and a screwdriver after the shops were discovered to have been burgled.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Kiyawa stated that the Chief Security Officer of the plaza, Mohd Rabo, reported the incident at the Farm Centre Police Division around 7.15am on November 7, after discovering that four shops had been broken into at about 4am.

He noted that the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised detectives to the scene in collaboration with the market security team.

According to the PPRO, Abubakar, 27, of Gama ‘A’, Brigade Quarters, Kano, was arrested after he failed to give a satisfactory explanation for his presence at the plaza.

“On reaching the market, one Abba Abubakar, ‘M’, aged 27 years, of Gama ‘A’, Brigade Quarters, Kano, was sighted loitering inside the plaza with an iron saw and a screwdriver in his possession.

“After questioning, he could not give a satisfactory account of himself. He was arrested and brought to the station.

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“During the course of investigation, the suspect confessed to having broken into the said four shops and carted away the following items, all of which have been recovered,” the statement partly read.

He noted that the recovered items included one Lenovo laptop, a Samsung tablet, 95 keypad phones, 127 Android phones, a sound system, an inverter and 17 used Android screens.

Other items recovered were a solar controller, 29 power banks, 15 wireless earpods, 130 assorted phone accessories and N350,000 in cash.

Kiyawa noted that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Farm Centre Division for their swift response and collaboration with market security personnel.

He added that the operation reflected the Inspector-General of Police’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, prompt response to crime and community partnership.

The command added that the suspect would be charged in court after the conclusion of the investigation.