The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Police Inspector Aminu Mohammed for allegedly robbing residences near his duty station at ‘C’ Division in Lokoja, the state capital.
According to reports, the inspector was apprehended on Sunday after a series of thefts in the area. Public Relations Officer SP William Aya told journalists on Tuesday that the officer’s involvement was uncovered due to the activities of a notorious gang of armed robbers who specialize in stealing household items and cars.
Aya explained that the officer’s downfall came when the stolen car was found at a workshop belonging to his panel beater, Arome Moses, who was in the process of changing the car’s color in Ochadamu near Anyigba in the eastern part of the state.
“Those familiar with the vehicle and the robbery that occurred at its owner’s house on June 14, 2024, raised the alarm when they spotted the car,” Aya said. “The car’s plate number had already been altered to an Abuja number, and the officer presented a backdated car dealer’s receipt from 2020 as proof of purchase.”
He added that the panel beater had started priming the car for a color change when the alarm was raised. The Quick Response Unit attached to the Police Area Command quickly responded, apprehending the panel beater.
One of the gang members, who was already on the police wanted list for other crimes, confessed to the robbery and identified Inspector Mohammed as the mastermind. He revealed that they were contracted to rob the house specifically to obtain the car for the officer.