The Kano state Police command has arrested a vigilante officer, Musa Sa’id, alongside three other persons who specialised in snatching mobile phones inside Keke Napep (commercial tricycle).
The Command’s spokesman, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed this to newsmen in Kano today.
He said the suspects met their waterloo while on a mission to commit the illicit act at Ja’oji quarters, pointing out that the Police have recovered a Keke Napep and three knives from them.
Harurna said the other suspects are Umar Mukhtar, 19, Yusuf Adda’u, 18, and Walid Abdulsalam, 19.
He said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko had ordered the transfer of the case to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
He said as soon as investigation was concluded the suspects would be charged to court for appropriate prosecution.
The Police Spokesman urged the general public to immediately report suspicious movement of such hoodlums to the nearest Police station for prompt action.
He also advised the public to immediately report loss or snatching of mobile phones to the nearest station in addition to reporting to banks to block their accounts to prevent possible unsolicited transfer of their monies.
Haruna said the vigilante officer had confessed committing the crime, saying “I was prompted to engage in the phone snatching business because Iam broke.
“I, therefore, connibed with these three guys to snatching phone and sell it to get money. I took a weapon in our office to use in the operation.
“This is the first time I have committed such an offence and i regret it, ” he said.