The Yobe State Police command, bas nabbed five suspects for alleged vandalism of electricity infrastructure and fraud in Fika and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The command said two of the suspects had looted shops and  warehouse of food items and other property in Fika community, located along the 100-kilometre Potiskum-Bajoga road.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Damaturu.

He said operatives of ‘A’ Division, Damaturu, arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged fraudulent acquisition of food items from a shop along the Ajari–Gashua road in Damaturu, the state capital.

According to him, the incident occurred on July 31 when an accomplice allegedly impersonated the complainant through a telephone call and fraudulently obtained one carton of OBA spaghetti and two half bags of parboiled rice.

The suspects are residents of  Zanna Zakarya Housing Estate, and Waziri Ibrahim Housing Estate, both in Dama

He added that  detectives launched a discreet investigation after the matter was reported leading to the arrest of the suspects.

He said the suspects confessed to the offence during interrogation, while the stolen food items were recovered and registered as exhibits.

Abdulkarim stated that  investigation was ongoing with a view to prosecuting the suspects.

In another development, the SP said the Fika Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress report at about 8 a.m. on Thursday that unidentified persons had vandalised a community transformer and carted away its power cable.

“Plice operatives, working in collaboration with community members and local vigilantes, mobilised immediately and tracked one of the suspects, a 23-year old found in possession of the stolen transformer cable,” he said.

According to him, “The suspect confessed to the offence during interrogation, while two additional suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the crime.

“The stolen power cable was recovered as an exhibit, while investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of the criminal network and ensure all those involved are brought to justice.”

He added that the command was investigating a case of causing grievous hurt reported at the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters.

Beyond the arrests, he added: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident followed an allegation that a 22-year-old suspect discovered his wife in a compromising situation with another man near her parents’ residence at Danewa-Biriri Village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area.”

Abdulkarim said the suspect allegedly shot the victim with a bow and arrow during the ensuing altercation, inflicting serious injuries.

He said the victim was receiving treatment at the Police Hospital, Damaturu, while the suspect had been arrested.

According to him, investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, after which appropriate legal action will be taken.

Abdulkarim said the Commissioner  Usman Kanfani Jibrin, urged residents to remain law-abiding, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.