Police arrests four suspected cultists, car thieves in Bauchi

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Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Bauchi state police command has arrested four suspected Cult members known as “Black Axe” as well as two other persons who specializes in stealing of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Auwal Musa Muhammad who made this known in a press release Friday, informed that the arrest of the suspected cultists took place on 3rd September, 2023.

The press release which was signed and circulated to newsmen by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Mohammed Wakil explained that the arrest took place when operatives of the command were acting on credible intelligence.

According to him, the suspects include, Eric Nuhu ‘m’ aged 23yrs a 500-level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU)Bauchi, Zaharaddeen Hassan ‘m’ aged 19yrs old an ND one (1) student of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Felix John ‘m’ aged 24yrs of HND one (1) student of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi and Daniel Masaka of Karu LGA of Nassarawa State.

The Police Commissioner said, during investigation, the first and second suspects confessed to have been invited by one of their classmates named Abbas Apeh ‘m’, a 500-level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi and were initiated into the cultism group on 02/09/2023 around midnight.

He added that the third and fourth suspects confessed to have been members of the cult group known as Black Axe for long and that they were invited by their group members to join the initiation event of the newcomers, which took place in an outskirt of Bauchi, opposite ATBU Gubi Campus, along Kano-Bauchi road.

The press release said efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing accomplices, after which they would be charge to court for prosecution.

The CP further announced that a two-man squad that specializes in stealing of motor vehicles and motorcycles were also arrested.

CP Auwal stated that the suspects have been carrying out their nefarious activities for about four 4yrs within Bauchi and other neighbouring States.

He said that the suspects were apprehended following a report by one, Aliyu Muhammad Gidado of Old Airport road, GRA Bauchi.

“On 24/08/2023 about 0630hrs one Aliyu Muhammad Gidado ‘m’ of old airport road GRA Bauchi, reported at B’ Divisional Police Headquarters Bauchi metropolis that on the same date at about 0400hrs he discovered that Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja ‘m’ aged 30yrs of Bakaro area of Bauchi and Kabiru Danfulani ‘m’ of Muda Lawal Bauchi, now at large, Criminally conspired among themselves and trespassed into his house and stole his motor-vehicle Honda civic golden colour with reg no. MSA-350-PD valued at six hundred and forty thousand Naira (N640,000;00)”, the press release said.

The press release added that the motor vehicle was stolen alongside a skeletal motorcycle green in colour, valued yet to be ascertained.

The CP said upon getting the report, a team of detectives led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) ‘B’ division, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Holman Simon quickly circulated the message across various Police patrol teams/divisions within and outside the State.

He said, while trying to escape with the stolen vehicle along Maiduguri-Bauchi road, Police operatives drafted to Soro Division led by the DPO Soro SP Aliyu Mohammad Goni, intercepted the motor vehicle and arrested the culprits.

The CP said, during interrogation, the first suspect voluntarily confessed to having been a motorcycle snatcher for about 4yrs and has approximately stolen 20 Jincheng robber motorcycles from different areas of Bauchi and Yobe States respectively.

The press release which said that the second suspect remained at large, noted that one Abdulrazak Idris alias “Over” ‘m’ aged 27yrs of Federal low-cost area of Bauchi state has been arrested in connection to the crime.

According to the press release, Bello Muhammad and Shayibu Dako who are suspected to be selling the stolen items and other receivers are still at large, while the stolen vehicle and the skeletal motorcycle have been recovered from the suspects.

The CP assured that Investigation is in progress with fforts being intensified to arrest the remaining fleeing accomplices, after which they would charge to Court for prosecution.