Police arrest three suspects over farm theft in Yobe

‎The Yobe State Police Command has arrested three suspects over alleged conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.

The police also recovered farm equipment, including two water pump generators and 10 solar panels. ‎ ‎The suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged theft of farm equipment from the Duhuwu Nima farm area in Bursari Local Government Area of the state. ‎ ‎The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Damaturu. ‎ ‎According to the statement, the Garin Alkali Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call on October 21, 2026, reporting that one Musa Mohammed, 40, of Garin Alkali town, had been apprehended by some individuals on a farm near Tarabutu Village over alleged theft of farm equipment. ‎ ‎“Upon receipt of the report, detectives from the Division were immediately mobilised to the scene, where they took the suspect into custody for investigation,” the statement said. ‎ ‎The police said preliminary interrogation revealed that Mohammed allegedly conspired with two other suspects, Mohammed Baki of Gashua and Haruna Wakil Sano, popularly known as Kogi, to steal farm equipment from farms in the Duhuwu Nima area. ‎ ‎The statement added that the suspects allegedly sold the stolen items to Adamu Abubakar of Bade Local Government Area. ‎ ‎“Acting on this information, the detectives traced and arrested the receiver. A search conducted at his residence led to the recovery of the following items reasonably suspected to have been stolen: two water pump generators, discharge and suction hoses, two gas cylinders and 10 solar panels,” the police said. ‎ ‎The command further disclosed that Kogi, who was initially at large, was arrested during a follow-up operation on October 22, adding that he also confessed to his alleged involvement in the crime. ‎ ‎“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other suspect, while investigation continues,” the statement added. ‎ ‎The Commissioner of Police, Yobe State Command, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, commended the officers involved in the operation for recovering the suspected stolen property and arresting the suspects. ‎ ‎He urged farmers and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation. ‎ ‎“The Command reiterates its commitment to protecting lives and property and warns against criminal activities, particularly the theft of agricultural equipment, which threatens farmers’ livelihoods and agricultural productivity,” the statement said. ‎ ‎The police also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to assist in preventing and detecting crime.

On Wednesday, the Borno State Police Command arrested six suspects over the theft of a mobile phone and the alleged unlawful withdrawal of N5.65m from the owner’s bank account.

The suspects were arrested following a complaint by a resident of Damboa Road, Maiduguri, identified as Abba K.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said the victim reported that his Infinix Smart 8 phone went missing from his pocket after he alighted from a commercial tricycle on October 13, 2026.