The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested members of a phone snatching syndicate and suspected thugs in separate operations within the Bauchi metropolis.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
According to Habib, the phone-snatching incident occurred when a 25-year-old resident was observing a Maulud procession along Kofar Fada.
According to to the PPRO, the victim reported that a 20-year-old man, identified as Abdullahi Abubakar of Unguwan Ardo, allegedly snatched his mobile phone valued at N50,000 and N30,000 cash.
When the victim attempted to apprehend Abubakar, the suspect allegedly handed the stolen phone to two members of his syndicate, identified as Al-Amin, alias Busy, and Babale Sule.
The PPRO added that Sule allegedly hit the complainant on the forehead with a stick, causing an injury, while Abubakar escaped.
“The Bauchi State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in its ongoing clampdown on criminal elements, with the arrest of a member of a phone snatching syndicate and five notorious thugs in separate operations within Bauchi metropolis,” the statement read.
“In the first incident, on Wednesday, 27th August 2026 at about 0910hrs, a 25-years-old man of Unguwan Mangororin Sale Toro, Bauchi LGA, reported at the VCRU Base, Kwanan Kwaila, Jahun area that on Monday, 25th August, 2026 at about 1230hrs, while observing a Maulud procession along Kofar Fada, one Abdullahi Abubakar, male, 20-years-old, of Unguwan Ardo area, snatched his Honor mobile phone valued at Fifty Thousand Naira and a cash sum of Thirty Thousand Naira.
“In the course of apprehending the suspect, Abdullahi allegedly passed the stolen phone to members of his syndicate identified as Al-Amin, alias Busy (surname yet unknown) and Babale Sule, both of the same address.
“When the complainant held on to Abdullahi, Sule struck him on the forehead with a stick, causing injury, while Abdullahi escaped.
“The victim was treated and discharged at Under 5 Hospital, Jahun.
“Following swift action by VCRU operatives, Abdullahi Abubakar was traced and arrested. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover the stolen exhibit.
“In a related development, on the same date at about 2100hrs, the Command received a distress call from a good Samaritan that thugs wielding cutlasses and other dangerous weapons were causing unrest at Mangororin Sale Toro via Shingen Abba area of Bauchi.
“Again, in immediate response, VCRU personnel, in collaboration with community leaders, were deployed to the area and arrested the following three suspects: Manauwir Isa, male, 18-years-old; Ayuba Umar Hassan, male, 17-years-old; and Umar Shuaibu, male, 18-years-old, all of Mangororin Sale Toro area.
“Subsequently, at about 1230hrs, another report was received that thugs were engaged in a fight at Jaja via Jahun area of Bauchi. VCRU patrol teams swiftly responded and arrested Yahaya Abdullahi, male, 20-years-old, of Gwabba via Nassarawan Jahun, and Abdulrazak Rabiu, male, 17-years-old, of the same address, in possession of a sharpened cutlass.
“Consequently, a total of five suspects have been placed under detention in connection with the crimes. The trio cases are under investigation and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, mni, psc (+), has commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.
“He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to rid the state of criminal elements and urged residents to continue to provide timely information to the Police to enable effective crime prevention.
“The Command assures the public of its resolve to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.”
