The Adamawa State Police Command has apprehended Abdulrahman Ishaq, a 22-year-old man and a resident of Geriyo in Yola North LGA, for allegedly stealing a commercial tricycle, commonly known as keke napep, from the premises of a Mosque at Gate 4, one of the entry gates to the Jimeta Modern Market in Yola.
According to SP Suleiman Nguroje, the spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, the incident occurred when worshipers were observing prayers at the Mosque.
Abdulrahman Ishaq, taking advantage of the situation, discreetly removed the tricycle from where the owner had parked it and joined the congregants in prayer.
However, keen market observers noticed the theft and promptly alerted the authorities, leading to the swift arrest of Abdulrahman Ishaq within the vicinity of Jimeta.
This incident sheds light on a concerning trend of keke napep thefts around the Jimeta Modern Market. Last month, a 25-year-old man named Suleiman Auwal was also caught in a similar circumstance.
Auwal had stolen a tricycle from the main shopping complex in Jimeta, where it was up for sale, and was subsequently using it for his transport business in Yola.
The seller of the tricycle had promptly reported the theft to the Adamawa State Police, who, upon spotting the stolen tricycle being used by the suspected thief, took immediate action and apprehended Suleiman Auwal.
Investigations revealed that the tricycle belonged to Abubakar Usman and had been taken from the Juma’at Mosque in the Jimeta Ultra Modern Market.
SP Suleiman Nguroje confirmed that Suleiman Auwal, a resident of Aso Rock in Jambutu, admitted to stealing the tricycle while attending Friday prayers at the mosque.
It was discovered that during the brief period he possessed the vehicle, Auwal had hired a local security guard, paying him N100 daily to protect the tricycle from potential theft.
Assuring the public, SP Suleiman Nguroje stated that Suleiman Auwal is currently in police custody.
The state Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Babatola, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that the suspects face appropriate legal consequences.
