Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) have arrested 30-year-old Hauwa Yusuf for concealing an AK-47 rifle and four AK magazines inside a sack of garri. Yusuf was apprehended along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway during a stop-and-search operation on Friday, August 16, 2024.
Parading the suspect before the media in Abuja, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, explained that Yusuf was intercepted while traveling from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Katsina State in a Sienna bus.
“On August 14, 2024, acting on intelligence, operatives of STS intercepted Hauwa Yusuf, a 30-year-old from Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. A search revealed one AK-47 rifle without a breach number and four AK magazines concealed inside a white sack of garri,” Adejobi said.
He added: “During interrogation, Yusuf confessed that Aminu Basullube, a notorious bandit terrorizing Katsina State, had sent her to take delivery of the arms in Danum Madam Camp, Katsina State.”
When questioned by reporters, Yusuf claimed ignorance about the contents of the sack. “I never knew that it was an arm inside. I was instructed to bring millet, but they did not bring garri for me. Even when I saw the contents, I was apprehensive. I was given ₦130,000 to transport the garri to Katsina. My transport fare was ₦15,000. I made a mistake by not asking more questions,” she stated.
In a related development, Adejobi reported that a team of operatives from FID-STS traveled to Igbowo in Oyo State to investigate Musa Saidu’s activities. Saidu had been missing from his community for five years before returning to Kigakwu, Kaduna State, and then spending money extravagantly. Adejobi detailed that Saidu purchased new BAJAJ motorcycles and twelve cows in a single day, totaling N5,000,000.00.
“Upon interrogation, Saidu confessed to his criminal activities and revealed he operated under gang leader Haruna in the Birnin Gwari forest of Kaduna State. He admitted to using AK-47 rifles and that he was given twenty-five cows as proceeds from his crimes, which he sold for N4,700,000.00. This money was used to buy the motorcycles and cows,” Adejobi added.
Saidu explained that his descent into cattle rustling was motivated by personal loss. “I went to Oyo because there were too many problems in Kaduna. My cattle were rustled, and although I know cattle rustling is a crime, I did it because of what was done to me. After I made money, I stopped and returned to my village to enjoy the proceeds,” he said.
