Niger Republic National Arrested In Bauchi Forest For Banditry, Impersonation Of Military Officer

Police in Bauchi State have arrested a 28-year-old man, Jibrin Ali from Zandar, Niger Republic, for allegedly impersonating a military officer within the Yankari Game Reserve in Alkeleri Local Government Area.

The spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Friday, stating that Ali was apprehended during a routine patrol by detectives from the Alkeleri Divisional Police Headquarters in collaboration with local security operatives.

“Jibrin was found impersonating as military personnel and displaying suspicious behaviour in an area known for bandit activity, and his arrest was met with resistance,” Wakil stated.

He further explained that upon interrogation, the suspect failed to give a credible reason for his presence in the forest, raising suspicions of his links to criminal groups operating within the region.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the suspect’s activities by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

In a separate development, the police on the same day intercepted a trailer carrying over 1000 bags of 25kg diverted iodized salt, estimated to be worth more than N10 million.

The truck was seized following credible intelligence, and two suspects, Sadik Jidda and Ibrahim Ahmad, were arrested.

However, the truck driver managed to escape and is currently on the run.

CP Aliyu has commended the officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to routing out criminal elements across Bauchi State.