The Katsina State Police Command says it has arrested three repentant bandits for robbery and cattle rustling in the Ingawa Local Government Area of the state
The three repentant bandits are Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, 43; Abbas Haruna, 34; and Usman Hassan, 50.
The command’s spokesman, Gambo Isah, told journalists at the police headquarters, Katsina, that the trio allegedly attacked a herdsman, Alhaji Gide Suleiman, on August 11, 2021, at Dammarke forest, in the Ingawa Local Government Area of the state.
He said the men rustled 20 cows valued at N7.5 million from him.
The suspects were also alleged to have stolen N40,000 and four mobile phones from the victim.
According to him, the suspects were among the ‘repentant’ bandits now working with the state government.
Nemesis, however, caught up with them on August 24, 2021, when they allegedly attacked the victim again.
They wanted to rustle another set of cows from him when the police arrested them.
Isah said two cows and N444,000 were recovered as exhibits from them.
“On 25/08/2021 at about 1230hrs, the Command succeeded in arresting the trio of one Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, ‘M’, aged 43yrs of Kofar Marusa Lowcost, Katsina, (2) Abbas Haruna alias Dogo-Abbas, ‘M’, aged 34yrs of Filin Polo Quarters, Katsina and (3) Usman Hassan, ‘M’, alias Manu, aged 50yrs of Ganuwa village, Charanchi LGA of Katsina state, repentant notorious bandits, working in collaboration with the Katsina state government and security agencies,” Gambo stated.
“The fact of the matter was that on 11/08/2021 at about 11:00hrs, the trio went to Danmarke forest, Ingawa LGA, with a motor vehicle Toyota, Camry, ash in colour, with registration number DE 631 LED, attacked a herder, one Alhaji Gide Suleiman of Malumafashi LGA while grazing his animals, with machetes and sticks.
“They threatened him and his boys that they were from the office of Special Adviser on Security to His Excellency, with a false allegation that their brother, one Sa’idu had robbed one Lawal of his herds and that they should either produce the said Saidu or bring one hundred (100) cows.
“After some scuffles, the suspects succeeded in robbing the said Alhaji Gide Suleiman of his twenty (20) cows valued at seven million, five hundred and fifty thousand naira (N7,550,000:00K) with the intention of taking them to the said Lawal as compensation for his stolen cows as falsely alleged by them.
“They also searched and robbed them of the sum of forty thousand (N40,000:00) naira and four (4) GSM handsets. Subsequently, on 24/08/2021 at about 0730hrs, the same syndicate of Abdullahi Mai-Rafi and three (3) others, attacked the complainant on the same false allegation and attempted to rob him of another set of twenty cows and some sheep, but nemesis caught up with them when they were rounded up and arrested by the Command.
“In the course of investigation, suspects confessed to the commission of the offences. The gang leader, Abdullahi Mai-Rafi confessed to have conspired with the others and sold all the cows at Dankama market, Kaita LGA of the state. Two cows and the sum of four hundred and forty-four thousand naira were recovered as exhibits from their possessions. It may interest you to know that Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, was a notorious bandit but repented and was working with the state government under the office of S. A. Security,” the statement read.