Some members of a motorcycle-snatching syndicate have given details of how they killed nine commercial motorcycle riders, injured others and stole 33 bikes in three states.
The syndicate members were arrested by men of the Jigawa State Police Command following intelligence reports gathered regarding their involvement in motorcycle snatching, receiving stolen property, and other violent crimes across Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa states.
The names of those arrested were given as Ado Saleh, alias Datti; Abdullahi Saidu, Magaji Danladi, Sabiu Miko, Habibu Dan Iya, Shamsu Sani, Ali Salisu, Alhassan Isa, alias Tata and Ado Ali.
Their arrest followed an incident in which one of the men attacked and snatched a motorcycle from one Okada rider in Aujara District, Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Following the incident, the police, in collaboration with vigilantes, responded promptly, recovered the stolen motorcycle and apprehended the man.
His arrest subsequently led to the identification and apprehension of other members of the syndicate operating across the three states.
During their interrogation, the syndicate members disclosed their involvement in the snatching of no fewer than 33 motorcycles in different locations across the three states.
They further revealed their involvement in violent attacks during which some of the owners of the motorcycles were injured while they also confessed to the killing of nine Okada riders in the course of their criminal activities across the states.
They were said to have given more useful information to the police operatives while they had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
“The Commisioner of Police has directed the SCID to sustain a discreet investigation towards identifying other members of the syndicate, tracing and recovering additional stolen motorcycles, establishing the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and killings, and ensuring that all suspects found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the command said in a statement on Wednesday, September 23.
