The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly breaking into four shops at City Centre Plaza, Farm Centre GSM Market, Kano, and stealing mobile phones, cash, and other valuables.
The arrest also led to the recovery of 222 mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, N350,000 cash, and several other items suspected to have been stolen from the affected shops.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kano.
Kiyawa said the incident was reported at the Farm Centre Police Division by the plaza’s Chief Security Officer, Mohammed Rabo, at about 7:15 a.m. on November 7.
According to him, the shops were discovered to have been burgled around 4:00 a.m. the same day, prompting the Divisional Police Officer to mobilise detectives to the scene alongside market security personnel.
He explained that the operatives, upon arriving at the plaza, spotted the suspect, identified as Abubakar, allegedly loitering within the premises with an iron saw and a screwdriver.
The 27-year-old, who reportedly resides in Gama ‘A’, Brigade Quarters, Kano, was arrested after he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his presence at the market.
Kiyawa said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly broke into the four shops and carted away the recovered items.
The recovered property includes a Lenovo laptop, a Samsung tablet, 95 keypad phones, 127 Android phones, a sound system, and an inverter.
Other items are 17 used Android phone screens, a solar controller, 29 power banks, 15 wireless ear pods, 130 assorted phone accessories, and N350,000 in cash.
The police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, commended officers of the Farm Centre Division for their swift response and professionalism.
Bakori attributed the breakthrough to the prompt handling of the distress call and effective cooperation between the police, market security personnel, and members of the public.
He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, community partnership, and the protection of human rights, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
Kiyawa added that the suspect would be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.
The commissioner urged traders, shop owners, and residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies to strengthen efforts to combat crime across the state.
