By Ola Fadoju
Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested 39-year-old Usman Umar, allegedly spying on people withdrawing money from banks or any financial transaction centres
Police have launched a man-hunt for another member of the syndicate identified as Abdul Sun, presently at large.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mohammed Shehu, said: “We gathered that on 3rd September 2022 at about 5:PM, a complainant, Nura Umar Shinkafi of the Zamfara State Investment Office in Gusua, reported to the Police that, on the same date at about 4:30 PM, unknown persons broke the left side of his Peugeot 406 vehicle with registration number Abuja RSH 531 RD and made away with his bag containing his HP Laptop, Zamfara State Investment I.D card and the sum of ₦3,473,000. On 5th September 2022, the Police detectives acted on intelligence information from the Situation Control Room in the Government House, Gusau and arrested the above-named suspect.”
Shehu said: “During the investigation, the suspect confessed that they have a syndicate that specialises in monitoring customers who withdraw money in cash from banks or any financial transaction centres and then follow them until the money was snatched at all cost. The suspect further stated that he and his syndicate members have perpetrated similar crimes in Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto States on several occasions. His confession led to the recovery of the above-mentioned exhibit. Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect. The case will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.”
In a related development, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf has urged members of the public, especially those who make financial transactions in banks or any financial centres to be conscious of this syndicate and ensure they report any suspicious person to the Police for appropriate action.
