The Kano State Police Command has recovered suspected stolen property valued at more than ₦69 million, including 160 solar inverters and six fuel dispensing machines, following separate intelligence-led operations that led to the arrest of four suspects.
The command said the recoveries were made within 48 hours through coordinated operations by detectives attached to the Sharada Police Division and the Special Intervention Squad.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, who said investigations were ongoing to identify other members of the suspected criminal networks.
According to the command, operatives of the Sharada Police Division acted on credible intelligence on July 29 after receiving information that a 43-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Isah, was allegedly advertising a large consignment of solar inverters at unusually low prices.
The suspect was subsequently arrested, while a follow-up operation led officers to an uncompleted building located at Haye Quarters along the Western Bypass in Kano, where they recovered 160 units of 6.5KW/48V solar inverters valued at approximately ₦59.2 million.
The police said preliminary investigations suggested the recovered items were suspected to have been stolen and appealed to members of the public who may have lost similar equipment to come forward for identification.
The statement said: “The recovered items are reasonably suspected to have been stolen. We are calling on members of the public who own or may have lost solar inverters of similar description to report to the Sharada Police Division for identification and possible recovery.”
The command added that detectives were working to determine the origin of the recovered inverters and identify other individuals connected to the alleged theft.
Police also disclosed that the suspect would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
In another operation, officers of the Special Intervention Squad arrested three suspects in connection with the theft of six fuel dispensing machines valued at approximately ₦10.2 million from Jajire Filling Station in Aku Village along Maiduguri Road in Gaya Local Government Area.
According to the police, armed robbers stormed the filling station in the early hours of July 25, overpowered the security guards, tied them up and locked them inside the security room before carting away the dispensing machines.
Following a formal complaint, investigators tracked and arrested Bishir Abubakar, 60; Shamsu Abdullahi, 30; and Alhaji Shamsu Lawan, 56, all residents of Katsina State.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to purchasing the stolen fuel dispensing machines from one Usman Ibrahim of Kaduna State for ₦5.2 million.
Providing an update on the investigation, the command said: “Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen fuel dispensing machines. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court after its conclusion.”
Reacting to the successful operations, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Bakori, praised the officers involved, describing the recoveries as another demonstration of the command’s commitment to combating crime through intelligence-driven policing.
Bakori said: “We will not relent in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks and recover stolen property across Kano State. We also appreciate community policing stakeholders whose timely information contributed to these successes.”
The police commissioner also advised residents to exercise caution when purchasing goods offered at suspiciously low prices, warning that such items could be proceeds of crime.
He further appealed for sustained public cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
“We appeal to members of the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with credible and timely information. Such cooperation is essential to sustaining the fight against crime,” he added.
The Kano State Police Command reiterated its commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates, recovering stolen property and bringing offenders to justice.
(Ripples)