The Yobe State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on burglary, theft, shoplifting and receivers of stolen property, arresting eight suspected members of a notorious theft syndicate and recovering a large quantity of suspected stolen goods during a coordinated operation in Damaturu.
According to an official statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Yobe State Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the operation was carried out by operatives of A Division, Damaturu, in collaboration with vigilante members, following recent reports of shop breaking, theft and other criminal activities within the Abbari, Nasarawa and Gwange areas of the Damaturu metropolis.
The statement disclosed that the intelligence-led operation, conducted on June 30, 2026, at about 6:00 a.m., led to the arrest of eight suspected members of the criminal syndicate identified as Abdullahi Musa, 18, of Abbari; Khalifa Mohammed, 20, of Gwange; Alhassan Ali, 21, of Nayinawa; Ibrahim Shehu, 21, of Abbari; Ali Mohammed, 22, of Abbari; Abba Shetima, 21, of Pompomari; Boniface Cosmos, 25, of Jerusalem; and Sakinat Usman, 46, of Nasarawa.
According to the Police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are allegedly connected to a series of burglary, shoplifting and theft incidents across the affected communities.
Items recovered from the suspects include two five-litre gallons of Kings vegetable oil, forty packs of Indomie noodles, one hundred and thirty-two sachets of Peak powdered milk and three Android mobile phones believed to have been stolen.
The statement further disclosed that the suspects have confessed to the crimes and are assisting the Police with ongoing investigations, while efforts have been intensified to recover additional stolen items and apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate for prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, psc, mspsp, commended the operatives for their diligence and proactive approach, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to sustaining its operational successes against criminal elements across the state.
He also urged business owners and members of the public to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities and continue supporting security agencies with credible information to strengthen community safety and security.
