The Yobe State Police Command has announced the arrest of five commercial tricycle operators in connection with cases of rape and theft in different parts of the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Damaturu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to combat criminal activity in the state.

According to the statement, one of the incidents occurred on May 10, 2025, when a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by 25-year-old Idriss Yakubu, a tricycle rider from Shengele Village in Fune Local Government Area.

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“The suspect reportedly lured the victim into the bush and forcefully raped her. Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime during police interrogation,” the statement revealed.

In a separate case, four other tricycle riders were apprehended by operatives from the ‘A’ Divisional Police Headquarters over allegations of criminal conspiracy and theft. The suspects — Abubakar Barnawa (28), Mohd Modu (20), Umar Mustapha (18), and Musa Hassan (19) — were accused of operating a tricycle with a fake registration number in a bid to disguise their identity and avoid detection.

Their arrest came after a swift police response to a trader’s complaint about being defrauded, according to the police.

Commenting on the cases, the Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ado, condemned the criminal acts and called on residents to remain vigilant. He urged community members to report “any unscrupulous elements among commercial drivers and tricycle riders to the police.”

He also assured that the police command remains dedicated to ensuring justice is served and that efforts to protect lives and property would be intensified.

The Command further encouraged the public to report any form of abuse or criminal activity, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining peace and security across the state.

Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Suspected Internet Fraudster Over Failure to Appear

Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a suspected internet fraudster, Ekweozor Peter, after he failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Peter was originally arrested on May 13, 2024, alongside others, following intelligence received by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about a cybercrime syndicate allegedly operating out of the Indy-Pool Hotel on Idowu Street, Ajegunle, in the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos State.