The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old man, Mustapha Sani, over the alleged theft of an Infinix Android phone in Adamawa State.
The suspect was arrested on October 19 by operatives of the State Intelligence Department in Awka following an intelligence-led operation, according to the police.
The command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying preliminary investigations suggested that the suspect allegedly stole mobile phones from unsuspecting victims in Adamawa before fleeing to Anambra.
Ikenga said the recovered phone was being investigated to establish the circumstances of the alleged theft and identify its rightful owner.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect allegedly dispossessed unsuspecting victims of their mobile phones in Adamawa State before fleeing to Anambra State, where the stolen devices were reportedly intended for sale or use,” the statement said.
He added that further investigations had commenced to determine the suspect’s involvement in the alleged crime and facilitate the return of the recovered device to its owner.
The police did not disclose whether other phones were recovered or whether the suspect had been linked to additional cases.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Ama, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime, recovering stolen property and ensuring that suspects were dealt with in accordance with the law.
Ama also assured residents and visitors that the command would continue intelligence-led operations to protect lives and property and maintain public safety across the state.
The arrest comes amid other reported cases of mobile phone theft and alleged financial fraud involving stolen devices.
In a separate incident, the Borno State Police Command reportedly arrested six suspects over the alleged theft of a mobile phone and the withdrawal of ₦5.65m from the owner’s bank account.
The victim, identified as Abba K., reportedly told the police that his Infinix Smart 8 phone went missing from his pocket after he alighted from a commercial tricycle on October 13 in Maiduguri.
The Anambra case remains under investigation, and the suspect’s guilt has not been established.
