Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a 30-year-old woman, identified as Hauwa Yusuf, for concealing an AK-47 rifle and four AK magazines inside a sack of garri.
LegalLinkz understands that the suspect was arrested on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway during a routine stop-and-search operation.
During a press conference at the Special Tactical Squad Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that Yusuf admitted to receiving instructions from a notorious bandit, Aminu Basullube, who has been terrorizing Katsina State, to carry out the arms delivery at the Danum Madam Camp, a location within the state.
Adejobi said, “On August 14, 2024, just recently, acting on intelligence, operatives of STS intercepted one Hauwa Yusuf ‘F’ 30 years of Dutsin-Ma LGA of Katsina state. The suspect was arrested while in transit from Lafia Nasarawa State to Katsina State, inside a Sienna Bus along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
“A search was conducted and One AK-47 Rifle without breach Number and Four AK magazines concealed inside a white Sack of Garri were recovered from the suspect. “During the interrogation, the Suspect confessed that it was One Aminu Basullube, a notorious Bandit terrorizing Katsina State general axis who sent her to take delivery of the arms in Danum Madam Camp, Katsina State.”
The suspect, however, while responding to questions from journalists, claimed she didn’t know a gun was concealed in the sack of garri.
She said, “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 further disclosed that a group of operatives affiliated with the FID-STS departed for Igbowo in Oyo State on April 29 to investigate the activities of Musa Saidu.
Adejobi further stated that a group of operatives from the FID-STS departed for Igbowo in Oyo State to examine the actions of Musa Saidu on April 29. He noted that the investigations indicated the suspect had been absent from his community for five years.
Following his return to Kigakwu in Kaduna State after this prolonged absence, further inquiries were conducted, and it was discovered that “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, that 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 stated.
He clarified that his involvement in cattle rustling began after he was a victim of such acts.
The individual further stated that he was apprehended upon returning home to indulge in the gains from his illicit activities.
He said, “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.”
