Police arrest two students for ‘stealing 100 phones’ in Bauchi

The Bauchi police command says it has arrested two students for allegedly stealing 100 mobile phones and other electronics from Wunti market. 

In a statement on Friday, Ahmed Wakil, Bauchi police spokesperson, said the suspects, both aged 15, are Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu.

Wakil said officers from the Operation Restore Peace (ORP) unit acted on directives from Auwal Musa, the state’s police commissioner.

“On October 1, 2024, a mobile shop owner reported the theft of the following items:100 mobile phones; 75 MP4 players; 30 cell phone batteries; 50 external memory cards; 1 Bluetooth headset,” the spokesperson said.

“Following the report, the Commissioner of Police directed CSP Kim Albert’s ORP team to investigate, leading to the arrest of Bakari Dukku Comprehensive Secondary School students Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu, both 15 years old.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to having managed to obtain the shop key from where it was stored for safekeeping, timed the shop owner’s departure for the village market, and repeatedly opened the shop door to steal from it during the day.”

The police spokesperson said the suspects sold stolen items at N5,000 to N8,000, adding that they used proceeds to buy clothes, food, and a smartphone.

“The proceeds of the crime were used to purchase clothes, food, and a smartphone, which was later stolen from one of the suspects as well,” he said.

Wakil said items recovered from the suspects included “21 mobile phones; five MP4 players; one mobile phone charger; and a metal key.”

He added that the suspects will be rehabilitated at a remand home after completion of investigation.