Police in Niger State has arrested 2 ex-convicts, 30-year-old Hassan Bala and 32-year-old Hamza Adamu both of Epigi-Lunko, Garatu ward, and Gwada area of Niger state for alleged criminal trespass and attempt to steal a vehicle.
In a statement by the spokesman of the police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, both men were arrested based on intelligence received by police operatives attached to the Crack Squad of the Command.
According to the statement, Hassan Bala was arrested at a residence around the Mandela area of Minna, when he jumped through the fence to gain access to a compound and attempted to steal a vehicle there-in, having observed and studied the residence for some time.
During interrogation, the suspect claimed that he got the information about the vehicle from one Dodo, and mentioned Hamza Adamu as his accomplice who was waiting to receive the vehicle for disposal at Kaduna.
He said he met Hamza at the new Correctional Center, Minna in 2017 after serving one year jail term for theft-related offenses.
Bala further confessed that they later met at Kasuwan-Gwari, where they exchanged phone numbers for further criminal activities.
He said both of them had perpetrated several thefts of motorcycles around the Bishimi/Kafin-Koro areas and theft of transformer cables at Gwada, Sabon-Wuse, and Maje.
The ex-convict also narrated that about three years ago, he conspired with the said Dodo and Hamza, stole a Toyota Corolla vehicle from the Garatu area, and sold it in Kaduna but the vehicle was recovered by the Police and both suspects were prosecuted and convicted.
Abiodun therefore said, this was another attempt before they were nabbed as an effort is ongoing to arrest Dodo, as the case is under investigation at the State Head Quarters, Minna.
(EDITOR: TIENABESO BIBIYE)
