The Kano State Police Command, on Thursday, busted a female-led syndicate and arrested five suspects who specialize in stealing mobile phones in the metropolis.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna, said the suspects carried out their atrocities in connivance with a tricyclist, a cybercriminal who specialized in buying the stolen properties.
SP Haruna said the syndicate were arrested after a series of complaints about their atrocities.
He identified the suspects as Shamsiyya Adamu, the 19-year-old principal suspect and leader of the syndicate, Idris Yusuf, Al’asan Dahiru, Abdulmajid Haruna and Salim Auwalu.
According to him, “A female-led syndicate of thieves has been dismantled by the Kano State Police Command, with the arrest of five suspects. The principal suspect, Shamsiyya Adamu, a 19-year-old resident of Brigade Quarters Kano, was arrested on December 21, 2024, following reports of stolen mobile phones in Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano.
“In the year 2024, the Kano State Police Command received numerous reports from residents of Kano Metropolis about a young lady who steals mobile phones from residential houses. The reports indicated that the suspect was using a tricyclist and a cybercriminal to aid in her operations. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba raised a special intervention squad, and the principal suspect was arrested on December 21, 2024.
“The Syndicate’s Modus Operandi is that the syndicate, led by Shamsiyya, specialized in stealing mobile phones from residential houses, using a tricyclist and a cyber criminal to aid in their operations. The suspects would deceive housewives, steal their mobile phones, and swindle money from their victims’ bank accounts.
*Suspects arrested included, Shamsiyya Adamu: The 19-year-old principal suspect and leader of the syndicate, Idris Yusuf, 23-year-old tricycle rider who aided in transporting the principal suspect to commit crimes and Al’asan Dahiru, 24-year-old suspect who specialized in disposing stolen items for the principal suspect.
“Others include, Abdulmajid Haruna, a 27-year-old suspect who specialized in buying stolen properties and Salim Auwalu, a 21-year-old suspect who specialized in swindling money from victims’ bank accounts.
“Six mobile phones have been recovered so far, and efforts are ongoing to recover more stolen phones. Thirty complainants, including 29 females and 1 male, have lodged complaints against Shamsiyya, who confessed to stealing the mobile phones on various occasions in 2024,” SP Haruna however stated.
