A 78 year-old man, Alhaji Isa Musa, has blamed hunger and poverty for his decision to engage in buying and selling stolen motorcycles. Speaking to Punchng while being paraded at the Police headquarters in Bauchi on Friday, Musa said he started the illegal business in 2011.

The resident of Bakin Kura said he had operated a provision store at the Muda Laval market but the business became distressed and he could no longer feed his large family of three wives, 35 children and 18 grandchildren.

“I had a provision shop in Mud Laval market but all the goods got finished because I used the proceeds to feed my family. I started buying and selling stolen motorcycles because of hunger and poverty,” he said.

Asked if he had no mature offspring to support him, he said none of his children could support him because they were not buoyant. The suspect said he gave a motorcycle to one of his children to transport himself to school.

The Septuagenarian expressed regrets over his action and pleaded with the authorities to pardon him, saying he was diabetic. He said, “I am suffering from diabetes and I need to treat myself, I beg the police authorities to pardon me.

Although, I’ve been doing this illegal business for six years now, if they pardon me, I promise and assure them that this will be my last.” Musa also confessed to have sold Indian hemp in the past six years “but I stopped dealing in drugs about four years ago.” He warned those engaged in such illegal business to desist and repent.