The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested three individuals for allegedly stealing 96 bags of 50 kilogrammes of rice from a trader in the Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state.
The businessman was alleged to have purchased 700 bags of rice in Nasarawa State and brought them to Abia State when approximately 15 hoodlums ambushed his truck on the road and carted away the food.
The Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, made the announcement on Tuesday at the command’s headquarters while paraded 31 suspected offenders who had lately been detained for various crimes in the state.
He described how the culprits, who attempted to flee multiple times, were apprehended after valiant attempts by the command’s officers.
He said, “On 26/07/2024 at about 0330hrs, a complaint was lodged by a truck driver at Akwanga Area Command that on the same date, he loaded seven hundred (700) bags of rice at Rukubi, Doma LGA of Nasarawa State, en route to Abia State, but his truck developed a mechanical fault at Nassarawa Eggon, forcing him to pass the night at the spot.
“Suddenly, armed men numbering about 15 attacked him and forcefully tore the truck’s tarpaulin and carted away some bags of rice.”
The Commissioner of Police went on to say that when police received the complaint, they immediately sprung into action and pursued the hoodlums, adding that their luck ran out when their vehicle was intercepted by police officials.
“Three suspects were arrested, namely Auwal Abubakar, Danrimi Mohammed, and Habibu Adamu, all males of Masaka, Karu LGA.
“Consequently, ninety-six bags of Mama Gold Rice and a Citroen Bus with Registration Number OGUN 419 XZX were recovered from them as exhibits,” the CP added.
CP Nadada further stated that the command seized 1,080 rounds of ammunition, 13 laptops, televisions, and phones, five magazines, four motorcycles, and five guns, among other items.
While urging all criminal elements to leave the state immediately, the Commissioner of Police stated that the suspects would face court charges once the investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia was completed.
In an interview with one of the suspects, Habibu Adamu denied being a member of the criminal gang, explaining that when the police caught him and the other two suspects, they were only transporting the bags of rice to their destination.
“We are transporters (drivers and loaders). We did not know if the bags of rice were stolen or not. We are appealing to the police to release us because we know nothing about the matter,” he said.
