The Kano State Police Command has recovered 160 suspected stolen solar inverters valued at ₦59.2m and arrested four suspects in separate operations linked to alleged theft and armed robbery involving fuel dispensing machines worth ₦10.2m.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesman, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, saying the breakthroughs were recorded within 48 hours through intelligence-led operations by the Sharada Police Division and the Special Intervention Squad.
According to the statement, detectives attached to the Sharada Police Division acted on credible intelligence on July 29 following information that a 43-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Isah, was advertising large quantities of solar inverters at suspiciously low prices.
The police said the suspect was arrested, while a follow-up search led to the recovery of 160 units of 6.5KW/48V solar inverters, valued at ₦59.2m, from an uncompleted building at Haye Quarters, along the Western Bypass in Kano.
“The recovered items are reasonably suspected to have been stolen. We are calling on members of the public who own or may have lost solar inverters of similar description to report to the Sharada Police Division for identification and possible recovery,” the statement said.
The command added that investigations were ongoing to establish the source of the recovered items and identify other suspects connected with the case, adding that Abdullahi would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
In a separate operation, the police arrested three suspects over the theft of six fuel dispensing machines valued at about ₦10.2m from Jajire Filling Station in Aku Village, along Maiduguri Road, Gaya Local Government Area.
The police said armed robbers attacked the filling station in the early hours of July 25, overpowered and tied up the security guards before locking them inside the security room and carting away the machines.
Following a complaint, operatives of the Special Intervention Squad tracked and arrested Bishir Abubakar, 60; Shamsu Abdullahi, 30; and Alhaji Shamsu Lawan, 56, all from Katsina State.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to purchasing the stolen fuel dispensing machines from one Usman Ibrahim of Kaduna State for ₦5.2m.
“Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen fuel dispensing machines. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court after its conclusion,” the statement added.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, commended the officers involved in the operations, describing the recoveries as evidence of the command’s commitment to tackling crime through intelligence-driven policing.
“We will not relent in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks and recover stolen property across Kano State. We also appreciate community policing stakeholders whose timely information contributed to these successes,” Bakori said.
The commissioner urged residents to avoid buying goods sold at suspiciously low prices and to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
“We appeal to members of the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with credible and timely information. Such cooperation is essential to sustaining the fight against crime,” he added.
