‘Repentant’ bandit nabbed for robbery in Katsina

The Katsina command of the Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday paraded Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, a “repentant” bandit over alleged armed robbery, cattle rustling and kidnapping.

Mai-Rafi of Kofar Marusa Lowcost, Katsina was arrested alongside Abbas Haruna, 34 of Filin Polo Quarters, Katsina and Usman Hassan, 50 of Ganuwa village, Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina state.

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The Command’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said Mai-Rafi was working with the office of the Special Assistant to the governor on Security matters.

Isah told journalists at the police headquarters in Katsina that the trio allegedly attacked a herdsman, one Alhaji Gide Suleiman, of Malumafashi Local Government Area on August 11, 2021, at Dammarke forest, Ingawa Local Government Area and rustled 20 cows valued at  N7.5m from him.

The suspects were also alleged to have stolen N40,000 and four mobile phones from the victim.

“They also searched and robbed them of the sum of N40,000 naira and four (4) GSM handsets. Subsequently, on 24/08/2021 at about 0730hrs, the same syndicate of Abdullahi Mai-Rafi and three (3) others, attacked the complainant on the same false allegation and attempted to rob him of another set of twenty cows and some sheep, but nemesis caught up with them when they were rounded up and arrested by the Command.

“In the course of investigation, suspects confessed to the commission of the offences.

“The gang leader, Abdullahi Mai-Rafi confessed to have conspired with the others and sold all the cows at Dankama market, Kaita LGA of the state.

“Two cows and the sum of four hundred and forty-four thousand naira were recovered as exhibits from their possessions.

“It may interest you to know that Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, was a notorious bandit but repented and was working with the state government under the office of S. A. Security,” Isah said.