The Bauchi State Police Command has said its operatives have arrested a 25-year-old man, who stole a car during evening prayer at a mosque in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Spokesman of the Command, Ahmed Wakil, in a statement on Wednesday night, said that the suspect was apprehended along Jos-Bauchi road, during a stop-and-search exercise after the report of the stolen vehicle.

Wakil said that: “Operatives attached to the Tilden Fulani police divisional headquarters intercepted the vehicle after credible information about the vehicle November 28, 2023. A vehicle, Toyota Vibe brand, red in color with Registration number: MRR 227 AA was reported to have been stolen from a mosque premises on the 24th November 2023 in Zaria local council of Kaduna state.”

“The vehicle was stolen when the owner parked at the mosque to observe sunset prayer. Upon receiving the report, the operatives attached to the division led by the Divisional Police Officer intensified stop and search on the highway linking Bauchi and Plateau states. As luck ran out on the suspects, the vehicle and the suspect were intercepted along the highway.

Thus, the suspect is identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, living at No. 25 of Unguwan Gyadi-Gyadi. Kano state but residing in Gwarinpa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. During the preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to have stolen the said vehicle at the mosque premises in Zaria Kaduna state. The vehicle was thoroughly searched and a document of the vehicle was equally recovered,” he said. Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, directed that the suspect be transferred to Kaduna state for further investigation.