Police lament incidents of stolen properties in Kubwa
The incessant cases of stolen properties in Kubwa, Abuja, have continued to raise serious concerns among residents and security agencies. Findings by Aso Chronicle revealed that incidents of stolen properties have been on the increase in the satellite town. A police source, who spoke with our reporter, said that almost on a daily basis, cases […]
The incessant cases of stolen properties in Kubwa, Abuja, have continued to raise serious concerns among residents and security agencies.
Findings by Aso Chronicle revealed that incidents of stolen properties have been on the increase in the satellite town.
A police source, who spoke with our reporter, said that almost on a daily basis, cases of stolen properties, ranging from household items such as electronics, generators, batteries, to those belonging to corporate institutions like schools, churches, mosques and business premises, are reported at the station.
The source said that many of the stolen items were traced to scavengers, popularly called baban bola. According to him, the scavengers steal residents’ valuables in the guise of assisting them to dispose their refuse.
Aso Chronicle gathered that the stolen items are usually sold to dealers in fairly used goods, popularly called pantakers, at give-away prices.
“The ease and speed at which these stolen items are disposed as soon as they get to the pantakers’ shops, as well as the high level of patronage these hoodlums enjoy, are of big concern to us.
“Recently, some large quantities of assorted household items were recovered by the police at the Gbazango area of Kubwa,” the source said.
Our reporter gathered that the goods were so massive that the wife of the suspect had to negotiate for a truck to move them away for onward disposal to the second-hand dealers before she was arrested by the police.
“Though the pantakers have severally denied the allegations, distancing themselves from such arrangement, the fact still remains that there exists a conspiracy and joint act between them, the thieves and scavengers,” the source added.
Addressing the leadership of the Association of Pantakers during the monthly community safety partnership meeting in Kubwa recently, the Kubwa Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Chief Superintendent Nuruddeen Sabo, insisted that to avoid buying stolen goods, they should always demand for the receipts of any commodity they wanted to buy.
He also said they should demand for police extract and court affidavit in case of loss of receipts.