Police arrest suspects over alleged extortion, drug, theft in Yobe raids

The Yobe State Police Command said it has arrested several suspects in separate operations over alleged extortion, drug-related offences and theft across the state.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu Aliyu, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin.

According to the statement, the arrests were made through intelligence-led policing, joint operations with sister security agencies and sustained patrols aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

The command said a resident of Baimari, Goni Abdullahi, reported to the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) in Damaturu on August 16 that he had received threatening phone calls and was allegedly forced to pay N130,000.

Following an investigation, operatives arrested 32-year-old Auwal Mallam Ari of Goneri Hamlet in Yunusari Local Government Area.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and revealed that he and his accomplices had earlier extorted N500,000 from another resident of Goneri.

The police said Ari also named one Audu Baimari as the alleged leader of the syndicate.

“Baimari remains at large and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.

“Items recovered include a mobile phone and SIM card allegedly used in the operation, as well as N630,000 suspected to be proceeds of crime,” the command said.

In a separate operation, the command said police, in collaboration with other security agencies and vigilante groups, carried out a night raid on identified criminal hotspots within Damaturu metropolis.

“The raid resulted in the arrest of 32 persons suspected of involvement in various offences,” it added.

The police said all the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

The command reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations to rid the state of criminal elements and ensure public safety.