Police Arrest Suspected Robber in Kebbi as Three Accomplices Remain at Large

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old suspect, identified as Basiru Lawali, for allegedly attacking and robbing a traveller along the Gwandu–Birnin Kebbi Road, while three other members of his gang remain at large.

Police spokesperson, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the incident occurred on October 22, 2025, when the victim, 32-year-old Umar Mode of Dalijan village, was ambushed by armed assailants.

According to Abubakar, the attackers inflicted deep cuts on the victim’s head and made away with his unregistered red Boxer motorcycle and a Tecno mobile phone.

“Acting on credible intelligence, a combined team of policemen and vigilantes, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Gwandu Division, tracked down and arrested one Basiru Lawali, 22, of Bancho village in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” Abubakar said.

He added that the police recovered an unregistered TVS motorcycle from the suspect, who confessed to the robbery and identified three accomplices, Hassan, Umaru, and Salihu, who are still being pursued.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang routinely met at the Dodoru market to plan their attacks. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Birnin Kebbi for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, commended the Gwandu police team for their swift response and directed them to intensify surveillance and patrols along major roads to deter similar incidents.

The arrest adds to a growing list of recent police operations targeting motorcycle-related crimes in Kebbi State.

Earlier in the year, police arrested five suspects allegedly supplying motorcycles to bandits and intercepted several bikes intended for criminal use.

In June 2025, operatives also recovered abandoned motorcycles linked to vandalism in Ribah District, a pattern authorities say reflects a broader link between motorbike misuse and organised crime across the state.