32-Year-Old Man Arrested for Vehicle Theft in Niger State

A 32-year-old man was arrested in Niger State for stealing a Toyota Rav4, with police recovering the vehicle promptly. The suspect claims to be part of a vehicle theft syndicate. Additionally, five bags of suspected cannabis were seized, with twelve individuals arrested during concurrent operations in Minna.

A 32-year-old man was apprehended by the Niger State Police Command after a stolen Toyota Rav4 was recovered in Minna. The police’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, announced this arrest in a statement on Tuesday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The vehicle, owned by a resident of the Brighter area of Minna, was parked along Shiroro Road on a Sunday morning at about 10:30 a.m. while the owner stepped away to make photocopies. When he returned, he found his vehicle had been stolen, prompting him to report the incident to the Tudun-Wada Division. The police quickly disseminated information about the theft across various divisions for immediate action.

In a stroke of luck, officers conducting a stop-and-search operation in Maje intercepted the stolen Toyota and arrested the suspect, who hails from Kofar-Dibi in Katsina State. During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted he was hired by a syndicate based in Abuja to steal the vehicle and deliver it to Dikko Junction. He also mentioned that he had stolen cars from Zaria, Kaduna, and Minna for delivery to different drop-off points in the northern region.

Separately, Abiodun also disclosed that five bags of suspected cannabis were recovered during another police operation, which led to the arrest of twelve individuals. The raids targeted identified criminal hideouts in Minna, executed in collaboration with local vigilantes early Sunday and Monday.

Abiodun confirmed that five bags of suspected cannabis were discovered in a home in Abdulsalam Quarters. An 18-year-old individual found at the site claimed the drugs belonged to an individual currently evading authorities. Additionally, three other suspects were arrested from locations including Barkin-Sale, Kasuwan-Gwari, and Market areas. All the individuals are now under investigation and will face charges in court once inquiries are concluded.

In summary, a 32-year-old man has been arrested in Niger State for stealing a Toyota Rav4, with further admissions of being part of a vehicle theft syndicate. Moreover, police operations led to the retrieval of suspected cannabis and the arrest of multiple suspects linked to various criminal activities in Minna. The investigations into these incidents are ongoing, and actions against the suspects are forthcoming.

Original Source: punchng.com