Police Seize ₦59.2m Stolen Solar Inverters in Kano; Four Arrested

The Kano State Police Command has successfully recovered 160 solar inverters valued at ₦59.2 million and arrested four suspects linked to theft and armed robbery incidents.

In a statement released by police spokesman CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the impressive recovery came as a result of intelligence-led operations conducted by the Sharada Police Division and the Special Intervention Squad. 

The operations began on July 29, when police acted on credible information regarding a suspect, Abdullahi Isah, who was allegedly selling large quantities of solar inverters at suspiciously low prices. Upon his arrest, detectives discovered the inverters hidden in an uncompleted building in Haye Quarters, along the Western Bypass in Kano.

“The recovered items are reasonably suspected to have been stolen. We urge members of the public who may have lost similar solar inverters to report to the Sharada Police Division for identification and potential recovery,” the statement noted.

In a separate incident, police apprehended three additional suspects involved in the theft of six fuel dispensing machines worth ₦10.2 million from Jajire Filling Station in Aku Village, Gaya Local Government Area. The armed robbers had attacked the filling station on July 25, overpowering security guards and stealing the machines.

Following a complaint, operatives from the Special Intervention Squad tracked down the suspects—Bishir Abubakar, 60; Shamsu Abdullahi, 30; and Alhaji Shamsu Lawan, 56—all from Katsina State. During questioning, they confessed to purchasing the stolen machines from an alleged accomplice, Usman Ibrahim, for ₦5.2 million.

The police are intensifying efforts to locate the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen machines, while the arrested individuals will face charges once investigations conclude.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, praised the officers for their diligent work, emphasizing the command's commitment to combating crime through intelligence-driven strategies. He urged the community to remain vigilant and to avoid buying goods sold at suspiciously low prices.

“Your cooperation is vital in the ongoing fight against crime,” Bakori stated, highlighting the importance of public support for effective policing.