Suspected phone snatchers offer N78,000 bribe to investigating officer after arrest in Bauchi

Two suspected phone thieves, Suleiman Habibu and Atiku Mohammed, offered a N78,000 bribe to the police after they were arrested in Bauchi State. 

Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday February 18,  said the suspects were arrested with nine mobile phones allegedly stolen from different locations in Gombe state. 

According to the PPRO, the suspects offered a bribe to the investigating officer to compromise the investigation but he rejected it. 

“The Operatives attached to the Department of Operation Bauchi Police Command have arrested Suleiman Habibu ‘m’ aged 25yrs and Atiku Mohammed ‘m’ aged 30yrs all of Jahun Area of Bauchi metropolis for being in possession of stolen property, receiving stolen property, and offering gratification to a public servant and was rejected,” the statement read.

“The suspects were arrested during a visibility routine patrol behind Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium and handed over to detectives attached to ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters for questioning.

“Preliminary Investigation revealed that the suspects had robbed the nine (9) mobile phones found in their possession from different locations in Gombe state. 

“The detectives further recovered dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp as well as the sum of seventy-eight thousand Naira (N78,000) offered as a bribe to compromise the investigation but was vehemently declined by the investigating Officer.

“To this end, the Commissioner of Police CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, psc has directed that the case be discreetly investigated in a bid to locate the victims of the crime and thereafter charge the suspects to court for prosecution.”