Hauwa Yusuf, 30, was taken into custody by Special Tactical Squad members for concealing an AK-47 and four AK magazines into a garri sack.
Yusuf was taken into custody during a stop-and-search operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Motorway, according to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, who was presenting the suspect to reporters in Abuja on Friday, August 16. He claimed that Yusuf had admitted that Aminu Basullube, a renowned bandit who was terrorising Katsina State, had dispatched her to pick up the weapons in the Danum Madam Camp region of the state.
The suspect pretended not to know there was a pistol in the backpack when questioned by newsmen.
“I never knew that it was an arm that was inside. They asked me to go and bring millet. And unfortunately, they did not bring Gari for me. Even when I saw the thing, I was apprehensive. I was given 130,000 to take the garri to Katsina. My transport fare is ₦15,000. I made a mistake by not asking questions.”
Adejobi added that on April 29, a group of FID-STS agents headed for Igbowo in Oyo state to look into Musa Saidu’s activities. Investigations, he claimed, showed that the suspect had been away from his hometown for five years. After going missing, he returned to his village in Kigakwu, Kaduna state.
“He started spending money extravagantly, buying different brands of new motorcycles (BAJAJ) and twelve (12) cows in a day amounting to the sum of N5,000,000.00.
Upon interrogation, he confessed to the above-mentioned crimes, he further confessed that he is operating under the leadership of one Haruna ‘m’ in Birnin Gwari forest of Kaduna State. Throughout his operations under the gang Commander Haruna ‘m’ he was using AK 47 rifles.
That twenty-five (25) cows were given to him as his proceed of his above-mentioned criminal activities, and he sold the cows in Kaduna State, all at the rate of N4,700,000.00, that’s the money he used in purchasing the Bajaj motorcycles and twelve cows, ten female, two male in Igboho Oyo State”Adejobi said
He explained that he became a cattle rustler after he fell victim. The suspect added that he was arrested after he travelled back home to enjoy the proceeds of his crime.
“I went to Oyo because there were too many problems in Kaduna. I had my cattle but they were rustled. I know cattle rustling is a crime but I did it because of what was done to me. After I made money, I stopped and went back to the village to spend my money.” he said
